Citizens back on song
BANGOR City maintained their 100% home record in the Welsh Premier League this season with a 1-0 win over Prestatyn Town last Friday.
Having whipped The New Saints 5-2 on the opening weekend at the Bangor University Stadium, Kevin Nicholson’s men followed up with a disappointing 3-1 defeat at Cardiff Met eight days later.
However, the all-blues were back on form against a Prestatyn outfit they should have beaten more convincingly.
Danny Holmes’ 21st-minute goal was enough to settle an error-strewn contest which saw Town finish with 10 men after James Stead received a straight red card in the second half.
Manager Nicholson said: “We were delighted with the win and the clean sheet.
“As a group, we wanted to bounce back from defeat and respond positively at the first time of asking to make sure we got the three points.
“We did that. It’s an important win that keeps us on track to achieve our targets. We set out to defend better than we had done at times in our previous games and to get the first goal.
“It was an excellent strike to put us into the lead after 20 minutes and we defended very well as a team throughout the match.
“We were slightly disappointed to not score one or two more on chances created, particularly in the second half, but in general the players worked hard, did what was required and got what they deserved.”
City’s Brayden Shaw fired wide from a great position in the 10th minute, but Town applied plenty of early pressure and Stead blasted just over the bar.
Seasiders defender Dave Hayes headed inches over his own bar before Holmes worked the ball onto his left foot 20 yards out and drove low and hard into the left-hand corner for 1-0.
Prestatyn nearly levelled when a great Noah Edwards run produced a cross which Jack Kenny fired goalwards, but defender Anthony Miley pulled off a marvellous block.
Kenny then hit a fierce shot from an angle which Connor Roberts had to be sharp to push over.
Shaw somehow missed a golden opportunity in added time when he headed wide from a Holmes cross.
Bangor dominated the second half, Shaw jinking his way into the box but denied by the legs of keeper Carl Jones.
Play became volatile and it was no surprise when a red card was shown by referee Mark Petch after Stead kicked out at Dan Gosset.
Shaw missed another clear opportunity when he drilled into the sidenetting before Roberts went down well to save from sub Ben Maher’s low shot. Dean Rittenberg went close for the hosts before Jones foiled Laurence Wilson in the closing stages.
City were due to host Denbigh Town in the Nathaniel MG Cup last night (Tuesday).