Littlemore helps fire Hotspur into final
ISLANDERS TO FACE AIRBUS AS CITY SILVERWARE HOPES END IN 12-GOAL SEMI-FINAL DRAMA
DARREN Garmey’s team might be struggling at the bottom end of the table but when it comes to the League Cup competition they just come alive – as they did against Bangor City last Friday night in a pulsating semi-final clash at the New stadium.
Seven out of the twelve goals and even more near misses at both ends earned Hotspur a League final appearance against top of the table Airbus Broughton later in the season and a chance for third time lucky after being losing finalists in 2007 and 2009.
Goals by John Littlemore with a hat trick, Chris Jones, Tom Clarke and Dan and Mel McGinniss (the latter two out of the top drawer) on target for the Holy Islanders while Gary Fletcher Taylor with a brace, Rob Parry, Jacob Fairleigh and Dylan Summer Jones scored for the Citizens.
Played in near gale force conditions all the more credit to the two teams and the officials for making it such a memorable game.
The semi final ebbed and flowed throughout but when Bangor City took a two goal lead against the elements in the first half hour there was no hint of the amazing drama five minutes before the break when Hotspur turned it around to lead 3 -2 at the interval with three goals in that period. The hosts went 4 -2 in front before the troubled Citizens drew level in the 90 minutes which saw extra time with Hotspur adding three more to Bangor’s one and the home fans in raptures.
It will be hoped this will inspire new found confidence from this result for the rest of the season and at Porthmadog next Saturday.
Nip and tuck from the start but Hotspur struggling to take advantage of the wind in their favour and on 23 minutes the visitors went ahead when Alex Boss found Rob Parry who struck the ball sweetly past home custodian Carl Jones. It looked plain sailing for the visitors when Jacob Fairleigh made it 0-2 on 31 when he was given far too room cutting in from the right hand side.
Hotspur needed something before the break – but no one saw three coming.
The first came after a combined passing movement and John Littlemore’s shot low to keeper Nathan Welland’s right. He added a second a few minutes later after his far post header was deflected past the keeper by a defender: to cap it all Chris Jones blasted a third past a stunned Bangor keeper to put the hosts in the ascendancy at half time 3-2.
Hotspur were looking confident (not always the case this season) and John Littlemore made 4 -2 and his hat trick on 53 when he looped a shot over the advancing keeper who had firstly blocked his shot. However Bangor came back into it on 56 when Carl Jones spilled a shot and Gary Fletcher Taylor pounced to pull a goal back. City were pressing hard with the wind and after Jones had clawed a ball away from the angle of post and bar the ball fell to Fletcher Taylor who made no mistake to square the score.
Extra time brought its own drama when on 102 Dan McGinniss brought the ground to its feet with a 35-yard stunning strike leaving Nathan Welland helpless, a goal to savour. Bangor failed to clear the ball and Tom Clarke up with the attack took advantage to score but on 110 Mel McGinniss made a superb run from his own half and slotted the ball comfortably past the keeper making the score 7-4.
In the added time Dylan Summer Jones got one back for Bangor.
Truly a night to remember for Holyhead Hotspur and their fans.