No favours on legend’s return
BANGOR City will be determined to remain among the Welsh Premier League’s leading pack when they visit fellow high-flyers Connah’s Quay Nomads this Friday (7.45pm kick-off ).
The Citizens are targeting a league double over Andy Morrison’s men, having beaten them 1-0 at Nantporth back in September.
Quay did gain revenge a week later by seeing off Bangor 2-0 at Deeside Stadium in the League Cup.
City were the last team to defeat Nomads in the WPL, the Deesiders having embarked on an unbeaten seven-match league run since.
Last weekend saw Morrison’s charges briefly take over top spot after a 1-1 draw at Bala, only for Cardiff Met to leapfrog them less than 24 hours later with a victory over Prestatyn.
Bangor are fourth in the table, just four points off the lead, having come from behind to beat Aberystwyth Town 3-2 last Tuesday and complete back-to-back wins following a lean spell.
Kevin Nicholson’s side were not in action last weekend.
“The break came at a good time for us,” said manager Nicholson.
“After losing three in a row to win back-to-back games is excellent.
“Now the break gives us an opportunity to recover, get important players back and raring to go for two more important games this month against Connah’s Quay and Bala.”
Aberystwyth, managed by legendary former City boss Neville Powell, came to the newly-named VSM Bangor City Football Club Stadium seeking revenge after a narrow 3-2 home loss to the all-Blues in September.
However, the return produced the same outcome.
The match began in the worst possible fashion for the home side as Declan Walker headed in an Ashley Young corner to give Aberystwyth the lead with their first foray into Bangor territory.
Four minutes later, Guto Williams fed the ball into the box, Brayden Shaw flicked on and a bad mistake from Town’s Jonny Spittle enabled Steven Hewitt to equalise from close range.
City had the better of the chances before the impressive Hewitt sent his shot agonisingly wide.
With the half drawing to a close, Citizens guardian Matthew Hall pulled off a tremendous reaction save to deny Spittle from a corner.
Town regained the lead on 51 minutes .
A long throw-in from the right found its way to an unmarked Luke Borrelli, who restored Aberystwyth’s advantage.
Luke Wall and Hewitt were thwarted by great stops from Chris Mullock as City cranked up the pressure.
Then on 73 minutes Laurence Wilson and substitute James Demetriou had shots blocked before Wall volleyed home sweetly into the corner.
The winner arrived with 11 minutes left as Wilson slotted a pass to Dean Rittenberg, who turned on the edge of the box and finished smartly to record his third goal in two games.