Now bring on Connah’s Quay
But City must improve on win over Saints says boss
IF Bangor City are to defeat Connah’s Quay Nomads in this Saturday’s Welsh Cup semi-final they must improve on their performance in last weekend’s 1-0 league victory over champions The New Saints, warns Citizens manager Kevin Nicholson.
While delighted to take three points against the full-timers and stay on course for runners-up spot in the Welsh Premier League, Nicholson felt his men were underpar overall.
Now comes a tough test at the Corbett Sports Stadium in Rhyl on Saturday (kick-off 7.35pm), with the prize a place in the Welsh Cup Final.
Although City have beaten Nomads in all three league meetings this term, they did lose to the Deesiders in the Nathaniel MG Cup back in October.
And the all-blues will know Andy Morrison’s side are in fine form and hold the upper-hand on goal difference over Bangor in the chase for second place.
The cup semi is part of a doubleheader against Nomads, with the Citizens due to travel to Deeside Stadium for a league six-pointer the following Saturday.
After last Saturday’s win against TNS at Nantporth, Nicholson said: “Next week we’re going to have to play a lot better to win the semifinal.
“We just hope we can deliver a better performance.
“We didn’t give a true reflection of ourselves today, especially with the ball, but all credit to the players for seeing the game out and getting a vital win.”
TNS had a great early chance when Greg Draper was played in by Kevin Kauber, but heroic City keeper Matthew Hall blocked brilliantly with his feet.
Bangor took the lead when Danny Holmes played the ball down the right to Steven Hewitt, whose byline cross was met by the head of Alex Darlington, but Paul Harrison produced the save.
From the loose ball, Darlington drilled across the six-yard box and there was ex-Blackburn Rovers prospect Dean Rittenberg to find the net.
Hall produced an even better save to thwart Draper in a one-onone situation when he was clean through soon after.
Just before the interval Draper blasted goalwards and Hall did magnificently to tip the ball onto the bar.
The City keeper remained the scourge of the Saints in the second half, foiling Draper from close range twice when a goal looked certain.