THE OLD ENEMY

City to face Rhyl again in second phase

BANGOR City will take on familiar opponents when they begin phase two of the Welsh Premier League season this weekend.

City welcome long-time rivals Rhyl to the Bangor University Stadium this Friday (kick-off 7.45pm).

Neville Powell’s side reached the Super 12 split in seventh spot, meaning they lead the Play-Off Conference at the beginning of the second phase.

Things did not go so well for the Lilywhites over the first 22 matches, of which they won only three to leave them next-bottom and five points adrift of the team immediately above them.

However, Gareth Owen’s side did lose the least amount of games in the bottom six and can be a stubborn outfit to break down.

In the two previous meetings between Friday’s combatants this term, it ended 1-1 at the Corbett Sports Stadium last August, while City triumphed 1-0 at Nantporth two months later.

This will be the 43rd Welsh Premier meeting between the coastal rivals.

Bangor lead 21-16 on wins and there have been five draws, all of them coming in the last nine clashes.

On goals scored, City are narrowly ahead, 67-66.

The Citizens will take the field looking to make it three successive wins for the first time in the 2015/16 campaign.

Before defeating Newtown and Haverfordwest in their last two outings, the all-blues had only won back-to-back games once this season – versus Newtown and Rhyl last October.

Rhyl have failed to register a win in their last 10 WPL matches, although seven of those have been draws and they will travel to Bangor full of determination.