Match Preview

Fresh from last weekend's 2-0 win at Cefn Druids, Kevin Nicholson's Bangor City make the journey to Carmarthen Town's Richmond Park looking to extend a seven match unbeaten run and consolidate second position in the JD WPL table.

Nearest challengers Connah's Quay Nomads lost 0-3 at leaders The New Saints in the rearranged Matchday 16 fixture last Tuesday, while Cardiff Met have slipped to fourth spot in the JD WPL table in recent weeks having failed to win in their last four outings.

Mark Aizelwood's Carmarthen side are firmly anchored to the bottom of the JD WPL table, a full ten points behind eleventh-placed Prestatyn Town. With just five points registered from one win, two draws and fourteen defeats, the Old Gold are in real danger of dropping out of the top flight for the first time since 1996.

Unsurprisingly, with a miserly two goals scored at Richmond Park, The Old Gold have yet to win home this season after seven attempts (drawn one, lost six). The solitary point was achieved in a goalless encounter with Llandudno a fortnight ago.

In the corresponding fixture at Nantporth earlier in the season, the Citizens had to be patient against a resilient Carmarthen rearguard action before Laurence Wilson's 76th minute free kick strike broke the deadlock.

Last meeting:
Bangor City 1-0 Carmarthen (10/09/17)

Traditionally, Richmond Park has been a fertile hunting ground for the Citizens with a record of 14 wins, 7 draws, and 4 losses. Last season Bangor picked up four points from a possible six away from home against the Old Gold with a 1-1 draw followed by a 3-2 win in the second phase fixture.

With the exception of Damien Allen (groin), manager Kevin Nicholson should have a fully fit squad at his disposal. Club captain Paul Connolly returned to the starting line-up at Cefn in a defence that featured in excess of a thousand EFL appearances between Connolly, Danny Holmes, Tom Kennedy and Laurence Wilson. Danny Gosset and Steven Hewitt look set to continue their partnership in the heart of the City midfield, while last weekend's goalscorers Luke Wall and Dean Rittenberg are almost certain starters for the Citizens.

Delighted with the win at Cefn Druids, Nicholson stated:

“We have a lot of games over Christmas and have started the month unbeaten, so we want to stay that way up until the New Year and hopefully win as many as possible.”

The festive calendar sees the Citizens visit Llandudno on Boxing Day (2:30pm Kick Off) followed by the return match at the VSM Bangor Stadium on New Year's Day live in front of the Sgorio TV cameras (5:15pm Kick Off). The final two fixtures of the first phase brings Newtown to Nantporth on Friday, 5 January, before the closing match at The New Saints on Saturday, 13 January.