A NEW ERA-THE LEAGUE OF WALES

A PERIOD OF TRANSITION

The first season of the new League of Wales was an anti-climax for Bangor. City finished fifth in the league and went out of the Welsh Cup in the fourth round away at Merthyr Tydfil, after beating Kidderminster Harriers of the Vauxhall Conference 2-1 after a Third Round replay.

1993-94 saw Nigel Adkins’ men win the League of Wales, reach the Final of the League Cup and lose narrowly over two legs against Barry Town in the Semi Final of the Welsh Cup. Despite outplaying Barry for the majority of the home leg, the South Wales side managed to escape with a 1-1 draw. Lee Noble scored for City and David D’Auria replied for the visitors. At Jenner Park, Bangor knew they had to score to avoid losing on away goals, and as the match wore on pushed more players forward. This left gaps in the defence which finally led to Barry scoring in the 85th minute. Barry went on to beat Cardiff City in the Final.

In 1994-95, Bangor were well on their way to a second League of Wales championship, when they met Wrexham in the Fifth Round following a 12-1 massacre of Maesteg Park Athletic in the Fourth. Bangor were well in form and a crowd of around 6,000 at Farrar Road saw Bangor take the game to Wrexham. Shortly before half time, Nigel Adkins saved a penalty to send the teams in for a cup of tea scoreless. Within seconds of the restart Bangor were in front when Marc Lloyd Williams forced the ball home. Wrexham hit back to equalise, and then scored again. Time was running out for Bangor before the Magic Man Frank Mottram headed in a Steve Humphreys cross to set up a Racecourse replay. Bangor were very unlucky in the rematch, losing by the only goal of the game.

With the news that the English League clubs were now banned from the Welsh Cup due to a UEFA mandate, City went into the 1995-96 competition full of hope but Cwmbran Town came to Farrar Road in the Third Round and won by three goals to two. The following season saw another Third Round defeat by the same scoreline at Caersws.

Ex-Scotland and Everton star Graeme Sharp took over as manager for the 1997-98 season, promising qualification for Europe. Sharp and assistant John Hulse saw Bangor progress to the Semi Final, winning in Welshpool 7-0, in Flint 3-0, in Aberystwyth 3-1 and at home against Caernarfon 2-0 in the Quarter Final. The Semi Finals and Final had reverted to neutral grounds and were to be decided on the day with extra time and penalties if necessary. Bangor met Newtown in the Semi Final at Rhyl, and were losing 1-0 before a mis-kicked clearance by the Newtown keeper gave Marc Lloyd Williams the chance to equalise. There was no further scoring so extra-time began. A classic own goal gave Bangor victory and a return to the Final for the first time in 13 years, lucky for some!

The Final took place in the Racecourse, Wrexham, on Sunday 18th May against Connah’s Quay Nomads in front of over 2000 fans. Both City and the Nomads had awful disciplinary records all season and after just six minutes Bangor were down to ten men, with the dismissal of Chris Whelan for kicking a man. Connah’s Quay took the lead after 75 minutes, and with the rain pouring down, it looked like it was all over for City. Veteran striker Ken McKenna had other ideas and headed home following a corner in the 89th minute. Extra time couldn’t separate the teams and a penalty shoot-out was called for. Bangor had lost their two previous Welsh Cup shoot-outs, against Merthyr in 1987, and Hereford in 1991. City had also lost a shoot-out in the League Cup Final six days before against Barry, and fans feared the worst. Dave Williams in the City goal had other ideas and made two fantastic saves to give midfielder Nicky Brookman the chance to win the match which he did and the trophy returned to Bangor after an absence of 26 years.

Much had been expected for the 1998-99 season, but a much-changed City team was humiliated 3-0 by lowly Rhayader, the defence of the Welsh Cup not even lasting one match.

Bangor kicked off their 1999-2000 Welsh Cup campaign with a narrow away victory by two goals to one against a spirited Corwen Amateurs side, before disposing of Llandudno (5-0) and Inter Cardiff (4-0) both at Farrar Road, to set up a quarter final clash away against Caerleon. Bangor proved too strong for their hosts, gaining a comfortable 4-1 victory.

The semi final took place against Afan Lido in Newtown. The Saturday preceding the match, Lido had hammered Bangor 4-0 in the League, leading to the sacking of Meirion Appleton and Terry Boyle, and the resignation of Gwyn Pierce Owen and secretary Alun Griffiths. Bangor were facing a cup semi final without a manager, and the 400 travelling fans were slightly anxious before the kick off. Gavin Allen and Scott Williams picked the team, helped by Bangor fan Michael Ishmael.

Despite all the setbacks and ructions of the preceding week, Bangor started like a train, Gavin Allen scoring after 8 minutes, and Robbie Williams hitting the bar 5 minutes later. Just before halftime, Bangor were hit with a sucker punch when veteran Lido hitman Mitch Patten capitalised on some loose marking to power home from about 8 yards. 1-1 at half time.

The half time interval came, and the Bangor fans requested to change ends, to go behind the goal Bangor were attacking for the second half. The chief of security, and the police officer in charge gave permission for this, and the faithful moved behind the goal. Brian Thomas, the rotund Lido custodian ,refused to come out for the second half unless the Bangor fans were moved from behind that goal – perhaps due to the fact that after the Lido equaliser he had made obscene gestures to the Bangor boys. The Welsh FA spokesman at the game, Phil Pritchard, agreed with the Lido keeper, and the Bangor fans were shepherded to the side of the pitch, and it was game on after a delay of about 45 minutes.

There was not a great deal of goalmouth action in the second half, until Brian Bevan, the tattooed South Walian Referee, had a five minute spell which did not endear him to the Bangor fans. On 80 minutes, an innocuous challenge from Robbie Williams caused the card happy official to show Robbie his second yellow card of the game. Bangor were down to ten men, but worse was to follow as Mr. Bevan gave a penalty to Lido, when the ball hit Emrys Williams on the arm. Patten converted the gift and it looked like curtains for City. With just seconds remaining the largely anonymous Lewis Coady changed the tie, and saved Bangor’s season when he struck a tremendous 25 yard right footed shot into the top corner of the Lido net, sending the Bangor fans delirious, and the match into extra time.

The first half of extra time passed without much incident, and the second period began (the Bangor fans now not being allowed behind either goal!). Paul Roberts waltzed round 2 defenders and the keeper before placing the ball into an empty net, and a further chipped goal from babyfaced substitute Nathan Comley-Excel ensured a memorable - and wholly deserved - 4-2 victory for the boys in blue.

Inevitably the fortitude of the side led to the reinstatement of the popular management team, and the Appleton / Boyle axis was backed up by the return of Gwyn Pierce Owen and Alun Griffiths as those responsible for the sacking of the bosses left the club muttering darkly on the ironies of happenstance.

After such an emotion-charged Semi Final, and with the club’s financial future resting on the last match of an intensely troubled season, Bangor City were very much the underdogs of the Final, held on May 7^th at The Racecourse in Wrexham.

The Blues would have to play a Cwmbran side that had been expensively assembled by affable manager Tony Willcox for their early season UEFA Cup encounter with the mighty Glasgow Celtic. With players such as ex-Manchester United striker Deniol Graham and Welsh International Mark Aizlewood in their side, Cwmbran were immediately tipped to sweep aside the young Blues. The City kids’ league form leading up to the final had been patchy to say the least, with just one win and two goals in seven league games. The previous meeting of the two teams had ended in a comfortable 6-0 victory for Cwmbran, and Bangor had also been humiliated by the same margin against moneybags Barry Town in the Gilbert League Cup final just 6 days before the Welsh Cup showpiece.

But life is not so simple, and City came out onto the Wrexham turf with fire in their eyes. The vast majority of the crowd of 1,125 were cheering Bangor, and several of the Bangor players had a point to prove, as they had been on Wrexham’s books. Bangor tore into The Crows from the kick off, attacking with exciting pace and confident skill which the elderly Cwmbran defence struggled to match. Bangor had a wonderful chance to take the lead after 13 minutes when Robbie Williams was pulled down in the area. Veteran keeper, Gary Wager, guessed right to save Phil Johnson’s spot kick. Wager was once more called into action again 5 minutes later, saving from Johnson’s deflected 30 yard daisycutter. However, Cwmbran almost took the lead against the run of play on 23 minutes when the league’s top scorer Chris Summers headed onto the bar following a corner.

After 29 minutes City took the lead. Defending a corner, Bangor managed to clear to the centre circle, where Gavin Allen held the ball up beautifully, his measured pass releasing all-action Robbie Williams who carried the ball past the Cwmbran defence before squaring the ball where the onrushing Paul Roberts slid in to score. From the ball being cleared to Bangor scoring took just 10 seconds. Bangor were now rampant, and only a goalline clearance from Aizlewood prevented ex-Caernarfon captain Emrys Williams doubling City’s tally.

The second half saw Cwmbran come more into the game, having brought on highly rated striker Mattie Davies at half time to play up front alongside Chris Summers and Deiniol Graham, but Bangor defended resolutely. When the Cwmbran players did manage to get past the defence, they found Andy Mulliner in inspired form in the Bangor goal. There was one real scare for the Bangor fans, but with the keeper beaten and only five minutes remaining on the clock, affable Irishman Graham Brett cleared off the line.

But it was Bangor’s day, and the cup was won for the fifth time. City had become the only side to put their name on the famous trophy in three different centuries, and deservedly so.

The scenes of jubilation at the end of the match both on and off the pitch continued well into the night with the victorious heroes meeting the Bangor fans in the pubs of Bangor for a few shandies!

The victory meant that Bangor were back in their rightful place as one of Wales’ two UEFA Cup representatives, and that the Blues would compete in the BBC’s lucrative Premier Cup competition for the next season - which would hopefully once more help to ease the money worries awhile.