Citizens at the Double on Deeside

Two quick-fire goals in as many first-half minutes ensured a crucial three points for The Citizens as they inflicted the first home defeat for the Nomads since February 2017.

The win sealed an important three points that takes The Citizens level on points with the Nomads in third and fourth place in the JD Welsh Premier League table and within touching distance of leading duo The New Saints and Cardiff Met.

A telling pass from the returning Taylor-Fletcher was slotted home by in-form striker Dean Rittenberg on 18 minutes before Steven Hewitt’s superbly taken free kick doubled the advantage just two minutes later.

An evenly contested opening was brought to life just after the quarter hour mark when left back Laurence Wilson fed Gary Taylor-Fletcher a pass and City’s Assistant Manager released Rittenberg to coolly finish past keeper John Danby. The goal was Rittenberg’s fourth goal from the last three JD WPL matches.

Two minutes later and Rittenberg was fouled just outside the box and City were awarded a free kick in a dangerous central position. Up stepped another in-form player in Steven Hewitt and he sent the resulting set-piece kick into the bottom left hand corner of Danby’s net to make it 2-0 for The Citizens.

Five minutes later and proceedings took a further turn for the worse for the home side. Luke Wall burst into the box from the right-hand touchline and after skipping past two Nomads defenders was brought down by Horan’s reckless challenge.

The dismissal was Horan’s second consecutive red-card against the Citizens having been sent off in the earlier encounter at Nantporth. However, as in that earlier match, the resulting penalty was missed as Wilson sent the spot kick blazing over the bar.

City could and should have added a third when Taylor-Fletcher nodded a ball back across goal from the far post only for Damien Allen to head over from close range.

The second half saw Bangor dominate possession as 10-man Nomads set-up to defend from deep and prevent further damage. With the tempo reduced to walking pace at times, the second period failed to live up to the expectations of the opening half.

Opportunities were limited for both sides, Rittenberg going closest for the Citizens, while the Nomads sent numerous high balls into the City box, but keeper Matthew Hall dealt competently with the threat.

As the match drew to a close, The Citizens were also reduced to ten men when Laurence Wilson was shown a second yellow for a tackle on Nathan Woolfe (86 minutes) in the far corner and received his marching orders from referee Huw Jones.