Citizens earn Europa place
ASOMETIMES turbulent season which has seen four different managers at the helm ended in celebration for Bangor City as they qualified for the Europa League.
The Citizens secured their first European adventure since 2014/15 after beating Cardiff Met 1-0 in last Saturday’s play-off final at the Bangor University Stadium.
Before the game, City’s interim manager Gary Taylor-Fletcher, who took over from the sacked Ian Dawes at the end of March, said it was his dream to play in Europe – something he had never achieved in an 18-year professional career which includes stints at Leicester City and Blackpool in the Premier League.
By 7pm last Saturday, his ambition was realised as Bangor sealed a 16th entry into European competition, dating back to 1962.
City have won four league games out of five with Taylor-Fletcher in charge, including an impressive first Welsh Premier victory over champions The New Saints in 18 attempts.
However, reaching Europe represents the biggest highpoint so far in the 35-year-old’s stay at Nantporth.
Birthday boy Dean Rittenberg’s 32nd minute goal was enough to see off the students.
A delighted player-boss said after the game: “We had to dig in right to the end; we were hanging on but I can’t ask for anything more. We’re in Europe, it’s what we wanted. We knew we had a bit of quality today and I think that was the edge.
“They had the fitness but we had the quality and now we’re in Europe.”
Bangor started much the better, Henry Jones’ early cross-shot testing keeper Will Fuller.
In the sixth minute, Jones’ low corner was met by a whipped effort from Taylor-Fletcher which Fuller did well to tip over.
Taylor-Fletcher should have done better via a Gary Roberts pinpoint cross from deep in the 17th minute, but headed wide.
Met began to apply some pressure without creating a clear chance, then just past the half-hour the hosts edged in front.
Jones was fouled near the touchline but managed to slip the ball inside to Taylor-Fletcher. City’s talisman then sent a low ball into Rittenberg, who did well to control and drill home from 10 yards.
Met pushed hard towards the end of the first half, threatening from set-pieces, but the home side defended solidly.
The second half was fairly even, the first chance falling to Elliot Evans of Met, who saw his firm strike brilliantly stopped by Connor Roberts.
On the hour, Bangor defender Anthony Miley was at full stretch but could not divert Jones’ free kick to the back post on target.
The students never gave in and caused plenty of panic in the City box from a 64th minute free kick, but the hosts survived.
Roberts pushed away a Wayne Evans header, then Adam Roscrow found the net with a shot on the turn, but the ‘goal’ was rightly ruled out for handball by the striker.
Taylor-Fletcher was replaced by Sion Edwards, who let fly in the 69th minute following a Jones pass, but Fuller saved superbly.
It was ultra-competitive until the end, but Met’s last chance saw Emlyn Lewis head over from a corner in added time.