Much better from the Reds!

Bangor City 2 Llanelli 2

Trailing 2-0 at the interval, the Reds seemed destined to be heading for another league defeat, but a gutsy second half fightback led to goals from Jordan Follows and Chris Venables to earn them a point, and it could easily have been three as they were denied by a combination of good goalkeeping, the woodwork and some lax finishing as they dominated the second period to silence the vociferous home support.

Making their first visit to Bangor’s plush new Nantporth Stadium – a far cry from the crumbling old Farrar Road – the visitors welcomed back Chris Thomas and Ashley Evans after suspension, but manager Andy Legg opted to continue with Antonio Corbisiero at right back while Thomas filled in alongside Stuart Jones in central defence in the absence of Lee Surman, serving the final of his three match ban, while Craig Richards made a rare appearance in goal instead of Ashley Morris.

The young keeper was soon in action, smothering safely a shot on the turn by Les Davies, and when the same player was put clear down the middle, albeit from a suspiciously looking offside position, he dragged his shot wide of the open goal with only Richards to beat.

Having survived these early scares, the visitors were afforded a golden opportunity to take the lead following a great run by Thomas from deep in his own half which took him through the heart of the Citizens defence, before he was floored in the box, and referee Bryn Markham-Jones pointed to the spot on fifteen minutes.

Rhys Griffiths stepped up to take the kick, but Lee Idzi in the home goal flung himself low to his right to keep it out, and to compound the disappointment, within two minutes of this the home side went ahead.

A corner by Alan Bull was lofted into the area, and Davies rose well to power his header beyond Richards after 17 minutes.

Despite this setback, the Reds continued to match their opponents who at times were finding it difficult to contain them, and when Griffiths found Lloyd Grist with a superb crossfield ball, he took it on before his cross was cleared only as far as Craig Williams, but his shot was just off target.

Grist then sent Williams clear down the left and it took a timely tackle by Peter Hoy to prevent him breaking clear, and another attack involving Jason Bowen culminated in his delivery into the goalmouth evading Idzi before being scrambled off the line.

With half time imminent, the Reds could feel well pleased with their efforts , but in stoppage time they conceded again when a free kick into the box was not dealt with effectively, allowing Bull too much time to win possession before beating Richards with a shot into the bottom corner.

An early second half foray by the visitors led to Bowen volleying over the goal, and when Williams broke down the flank, he cut inside to the near post before being halted by Hoy.

There were encouraging signs that the Reds believed they could still salvage something from the game, and as the half progressed the Citizens were finding it increasingly difficult to make any headway against opponents who were playing some decent football, and Griffiths might have done better when he met a Williams cross but headed directly at Idzi from close range.

Follows was introduced instead of Scott Evans just after the hour mark, and the home goal continued to bear a charmed life with Idzi just managing to keep out a Jones header which was creeping in at the foot of the post when he met a Wiliams corner, and Craig Moses who had replaced Bowen failed to force home the ball on the line when it rebounded off the inside of the post when Williams again supplied the cross.

Their efforts deserved some award, and it duly arrived after 77 minutes when the home defence failed to clear their lines properly, allowing Follows to seize on the loose ball before driving it low into the net.

Buoyed by this, the Reds dominated play up to the final whistle with Venables seeing his free kick rebound off the woodwork, before four minutes from time he succeeded in levelling matters when an initial attempt by Williams was kept out only for Venables to strike the clearance past Idzi to earn his side a deserved point, although probably three would have been a fairer reflection on the overall play.

MATCH STATS.

BANGOR CITY; Idzi; Hoy (Williams, 78); Roberts; Morley; Brewerton ©; Johnston; Allen;

Thomas; Davies; Bull (Wilson, 72); Edwards (Smyth, 69); Subs. not used;

Clancy; Jones.

LLANELLI; Richards; Thomas; Grist; Jones ©; Venables; S. Evans (Follows, 62);

Bowen (Moses, 76); Corbisiero (Llewellyn, 80); Griffiths; A. Evans; Williams;

Subs. not used; Batley; Holloway.

SCORERS; Bangor City; Davies, 17; Bull, 45 + 1.

Llanelli – Follows, 77; Venables, 86.

YELLOW CARDS; Llanelli – Corbisiero.

LLANELLI STAR MAN; Craig Williams.

REFEREE; Mr. Bryn Markham-Jones (Wrexham).

ATTENDANCE; 664.