Andy’s Welsh Cup odyssey sees a second visit to Farrar Road.
reporter: Andy Unwin
Following on from their victory over Aberaman Athletic in the last round, the reward for Bangor City was another home tie.
The opposition on this occasion were Welsh Premier League leaders Llanelli, a mouth-watering cup tie between two of the ‘heavyweight’ teams left in this years competition.
The fact that the fixture was also chosen for live screening by Sgorio with a 5.15pm kick off time added extra spice to a tie which didn’t really need any extra spice!
Arriving at Farrar Road at 5.00pm to see a long queue at the turnstiles confirmed that this fixture had captured the imagination of supporters, but an attendance of 820 was a little less than I had anticipated.
The match was played on a surface best desribed as a ‘little on the soft side’, making flowing football difficult for both teams.
Perhaps the decisive moment of the tie occured in the 6th minute when Llanelli defender, Stuart Jones, up-ended Citizens striker Ashley Stott in the penalty box.
Referee, Mark Whitby of Swansea, pointed to the spot before issuing a red card to the Llanelli player.
Jamie Reed, confidently dispatched the resulting spot-kick to give the home side a goal advantage as well as a numerical advantage.
The rest of the first half was played out mainly in midfield, the home side finding it difficult to make the extra man tell against their full time opponents.
The second half followed much the same pattern, but as Llanelli threw more players forward in search of the elusive equaliser, they were being caught out by more frequent Bangor City counter-attacks.
With the large crowd checking watches and biting finger nails the second goal eventually arrived … in the 93rd minute … when Dave Morley’s speculative effort found it’s way past the visiting ‘keeper, Ashley Morris, to give the home side an excellent victory which keeps alive their dream of a hat-trick of consecutive Welsh Cup victories.
The joy felt by the Citizens at the final whistle was further fuelled by news of cup defeats for both The New Saints and Rhyl, thus ensuring that Bangor City are the only side Welsh Cup winners left in the final four.
In that final quartet, the Citizens were paired with Prestayn Town, the tie due to played on 11 April at Newtown.
The prospect of the 1st ever ‘All Gwynedd Welsh Cup Final’ is still a possibility with Bala Town taking on Port Talbot Town in the other semi final.
Jamie Reed’s 6th minute penalty was the third goal I have witnessed him scoring in this year’s Welsh Cup, this puts him level alongide Dean Irvine (Barmouth & Dyffryn United) in the chase for ‘Unwins Golden Boot’!
A goal in the semi final will Reed the lead in the chase for this prestgious award, surely there can be no further incentive?!
