Tigers prove no match for Bangor 1876
BANGOR 1876 FC marked their full competitive debut in the Gwynedd Football League with a fully deserved 4-1 triumph at Ogwen Tigers.
In front of a bumper crowd at Tigers’ Bethesda Rugby Club home, the visitors were presented with a glorious opportunity to take an early lead in the fifth minute of the match.
Jamie Petrie was unceremoniously bundled over inside the area by Tigers’ centre back Tomos Jones and match official Arwel Jones duly pointed to the spot.
Up stepped Gaerwen-based youngster Dylan Summers-Jones, only to see his strike blaze over the crossbar to the relief of the home side.
Both sides took time to settle in a rain-sodden opening period on the banks of the Ogwen, but SummersJones made amends for the earlier miss when he opened the scoring on 28 minutes with a well-anticipated header to beat the oncoming Tigers keeper Shane Owen.
However, Bangor 1876’s lead was relatively short-lived as Tigers’ number nine Kieron Bullock capitalised on a slack pass on the edge of the area and a well-taken finish levelled the scores at 1-1 with 36 minutes played.
The visitors then saw a Jamie Thomas cross from the right flash across the face of the Tigers’ goal eluding the 1876 forwards before, just moments later, Les Davies managed to beat keeper Owen only to see his effort roll agonisingly wide of the right hand upright.
The consistent downpour of the opening 45 minutes finally ceased at the interval, and Bangor 1876
began the second half with renewed vigour.
The visitors retook the lead less than 10 minutes after the restart.
A Petrie corner kick found the head of Summers-Jones who duly doubled his tally to edge Bangor 1876 ahead with a 2-1 lead.
With just over an hour played, Petrie pounced onto a Benn Lundstram assist on the six-yard line to further extend the lead as Bangor 1876 took firm control of proceedings.
A further ten minutes of play elapsed before the compliment was returned with Petrie providing the ball for Lundstram to finish with a powerful header at the far post after good approach work by Jamie Thomas down the right flank.
With quarter of an hour’s play remaining, Bangor 1876 management duo Mel Jones and Dylan Williams made their first substitution of the afternoon as left back Steffan Taylor replaced two-goal Summers-Jones with Jos Lloyd switching to midfield.
As the clock wound down, new signing Dion Williams replaced Jamie Thomas at right back but there was no way back for Ogwen Tigers as Bangor 1876 wrapped up a thoroughly deserved three points to begin their debut 2019-20 League campaign with a win.
Elsewhere in the Gwynedd League, reigning champions Menai Bridge Tigers beat Waunfawr 5-1, Bro Goronwy hammered Llanystumdwy 5-0 at Cae Nerys and newly-named Trearddur Bay Bulls, an amalgamation of Bryngwran Bulls and Trearddur Bay United were also impressive winners in a 7-0 away trouncing of Glantraeth.
Llangoed and newly-promoted Caergybi shared the honours 2-2 and Bethesda Athletic were beaten 3-0 by Nefyn United at Cae’r Delyn.