Match Preview
Weather permitting, The Citizens will feature in the live televised JD WPL Matchday 17 fixture this Saturday evening as they meet hosts Cefn Druids at The Rock (5:15pm Kick Off).
Both clubs are enjoying good seasons so far with Huw Griffiths' Druids surprising the pundits as they push for a place in the Top Six with six matches remaining before the mid-season split.
Currently on a run of six games without defeat in all competitions (won 5, drawn 1), Kevin Nicholson’s Citizens will be looking to avenge the 0-1 defeat against the Ancients in the reverse fixture at the tail end of October - the last time City failed to pick up points in the JD WPL.
Midfielder Alec Mudimu scored the only goal of the game after 16 minutes as he pounced on a loose ball after City keeper Matthew Hall and Druids' Nathan Peate collided following a Neil Ashton free kick midway into the Bangor half. City's best opportunity fell to Steven Hewitt who saw his free kick delivery strike the Druids crossbar in the closing stages.
Last Saturday's 1-1 draw at Barry Town United extended City's unbeaten run which saw Nicholson crowned as November's Manager of the Month. However, that result was seen as a lost opportunity for The Citizens as they were pegged back by a second half Barry revival after dominating the opening 45 minutes.
"We were disappointed at the end of the game as we felt it was a missed opportunity to win another game. Certainly after how we had played in the first half, being in control of the game and deservedly leading 1-0 at half time. However, our second half performance was below the standards we set. We didn't start the half at the same tempo as we did the first, we didn't do the basics well enough and we seemed to lack the same energy in our play. We felt at half time that if we could go on to score the second goal then there would have been no way back for the opposition but unfortunately we didn't manage to get it," said Nicholson.
Looking ahead to Saturday's match, Nicholson added:
"All our focus, thoughts and energy will now go into preparing well for our next game at Cefn Druids, where the aim will be to produce a consistent 90-minute team performance."
The Citizens will again be near full strength on Saturday with no reported injuries from the Barry match. The only absentee is midfielder Damien Allen who misses out as he recovers from a groin injury.
With last weekend's match at Prestatyn falling victim to the weather, the Druids have collected 23 points from their 15 fixtures so far, with a record of 6 wins, 5 draws and 4 losses. On home turf at The Rock they've secured clean sheets in half of their games in the WPL with a 3-0 defeat of Bala Town in September their most notable performance to date.
Former Rhyl and Connah's Quay Nomads striker Ashley Ruane is Cefn's leading goal scorer with a haul of 4 goals this season, closely followed by centre back Nathan Peate (3 goals) who poses their main threat from set piece deliveries.
Historically, City have dominated meetings between the two clubs with a record of 21 wins, 3 draws and 5 losses, and the Ancients have not beaten Bangor at home since March 2009 when winger Kevin Holsgrove provided the game's only goal in a 1-0 win.
Last meeting:
Bangor City 0-1 Cefn Druids (27/10/17)