City give it their all but arch-rivals edge Cup thriller
BANGOR City gave archrivals Caernarfon Town a stern test in an absorbing Welsh Cup fourth-round tie.
Goals in each half from Jamie Breese and Gareth Edwards, either side of Jordan Piggott’s reply right on the interval, proved enough to take the Cofis through in front of a bumper crowd of more than 2,000 at the VSM Bangor Stadium.
A deluge had cast a doubt over the Gwynedd derby going ahead, but the soaked pitch stood up well – and it was the Cofis who were left to celebrate in the rain at the final whistle.
Caernarfon manager Sean Eardley dedicated his side’s win to the club’s supporters, who savoured the victory in the first meeting between the two big rivals since 2015.
“This win is for our fans as I can see how much it means to them,” he said. “We showed a lot of discipline and character. It was a decent game, and it’s a great feeling to be in the last eight.”
Bangor gave it their all, and made their higher league rivals battle all the way in what turned out to be an intriguing tussle in front of the TV cameras.
City started well, and were denied an early breakthrough as Cofis man-of-the match Jamie Crowther saved the day with a timely headed intervention with Marc Williams ready to pounce.
And it was Caernarfon who drew first blood on 26 minutes.
Gareth Evans steered a pass through to Breese, who shrugged off a couple of defenders on the edge of the box before lifting the ball past Nathan Wolland and into the corner of the net.
Wolland then did well to keep out a deflected Joe Williams cross, Danny Brookwell smashed an effort just past the post, while Breese brought another good save from the City stopper when breaking clear.
But the Citizens threatened through the lively Sam Jones, and were back on terms right on half time as a low Jake Phillips corner from the left squirmed over the line, Pigott being credited with the final touch in a packed goalmouth.
Stung by the City reply, the Cofis came out with purpose for the second half and regained the lead on the hour when Crowther swung a cross into the box from the right and Gareth Edwards steered his header inside the left post.
The visitors kept it tight after that as they snuffed out any real danger, despite the valiant efforts of the home side who kept going right to the final whistle.
Edwards went close to a second when denied by a goalline clearance from Williams from a Nathan Craig corner, while a couple of other half chances went to waste for Caernarfon.
Bangor were always in the hunt, but could find no way back against well marshalled opponents despite the appearance of player boss Gary Taylor-Fletcher in the closing moments.
■ Bangor City defender Sam Barnes, who missed the Welsh Cup defeat to Caernarfon, has joined Welsh Premier League side Newtown.