Domestic wins now the focus
CITIZENS LOOK TO FUTURE AFTER EUROPEAN LOSS
BANGOR City’s European dream is over but the planning now starts for the new Welsh Premier League season.
Next Wednesday ( July 19) the Citizens travel to Flint Town United and two days later visit Colwyn Bay for what should be useful and competitive warm-up friendlies.
City’s quest for Europa League glory ended last Thursday when they lost 3-0 at home to Lyngby of Denmark in their first qualifying round, second leg clash.
Having lost the opening game 1-0, Kevin Nicholson’s side entered the return full of hope, but the Danish Superliga outfit were out of sight by the interval thanks to three firsthalf goals.
Manager Nicholson said that despite the outcome, playing in Europe had been a great experience and all at the club want it to happen again next season.
“We were disappointed with the result, but you can’t take anything away from Lyngby – they are a quality team,” he said.
“They fully deserved to win the game the way they played – they’ve got some excellent players.”
A sell-out crowd packed into the Bangor University Stadium for a game in which they hosts needed to make a solid start.
Unfortunately, Bangor fell behind in just the third minute and it was all of their own making.
A poor pass from Damian Allen presented the ball to Kristoffer Larsen who buried a neat effort into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Jeppe Kjaer and Larsen added further goals before the break.
In the second half the Welsh Premier side played much better and almost pulled a goal back near the end when Laurence Wilson’s exquisite chip was tipped over the bar by Mikkel Andersen.
Nicholson added: “It was just disappointing to concede the goal after two minutes.
“We had a game plan, we wanted to stay in the game as long as possible, to frustrate Lyngby, but obviously once we conceded that first goal it makes it a mountain to climb.
“All credit to the lads, in the second half they gave a really good account of themselves, and that’s a positive to carry forward into the season.”
Bangor: Roberts, Kennedy, Miley, Connolly (Wall 25) Wilson, Shaw (Edwards 73), Gosset, Allen, TaylorFletcher. Hewitt, Rittenberg (Henry 73).