Jones and Mcgonigle both bag braces in impressive Bangor win
BANGOR 1876 made a bright start to their home match against Flint Mountain and had the ball in the net after three minutes thanks to a header by Corrig Mcgonigle. His joy was shortlived as he was flagged offside and the score remained goalless.
With ten minutes on the clock, it was the visitors who threatened. Jack Parry got his head to the ball before Carl Jones could claim it but his effort went wide of the target.
Shortly afterwards, Andy Brown seemed set to open the scoring from inside the six yard box via another header following a long ball. However, Carl Jones denied him with an excellent save.
The game then entered something if a lull as the two sides cancelled each other out and failed to find the target with shots from distance. Inside the last ten minutes of the half, Flint Mountain came close when Jack Parry shot narrowly wide after breaking into the left side of the box.
Shortly before the interval, it was Bangor’s turn to threaten. James Barry sent in an inswinging cross from the right which was headed narrowly over the bar by Craig Whelan at the back post.
In first half injury time, Flint Mountain opened the scoring. Carl Jones made an excellent save from Joe Holt’s initial effort but Alfie Clark was on hand to turn in the rebound from close range.
Just as it looked like Bangor would be heading into changing rooms a goal down at the interval, they drew level.
Sam Jones played in Mason Blackwell-jones who beat his man and played the ball across the six yard line. A visiting defender slipped when trying to clear the ball, enabling Corrig Mcgonigle to fire the ball into the net from six yards out.
HALF-TIME: BANGOR 1876 1-1 FLINT MOUNTAIN
Three minutes into the second half, Bangor took the lead. James Barry’s cross from the right reached Sam Jones at the back post and the attacker scored with a powerful low shot.
James Barry came close to extending the lead when he won possession when Flint Mountain were trying to play the ball out from the back. The visiting goalkeeper Reece Thompson had to show sharp reflexes to block his shot.
Bangor soon had another chance after winning possession inside Flint Mountain’s final third, but Sam Jones’ low shot from just outside the box went narrowly wide.
On the hour mark, Bangor did manage to increase their advantage. A free kick on the left by Joe Culshaw was initially headed clear but Sam Jones was on hand to fire the ball into the net from the edge of the box for his second goal of the evening.
Another ball into the box from Joe Culshaw almost created another opportunity almost immediately but Corrig Mcgonigle couldn’t quite get his head to an inviting ball into the box.
Cai Powell-roberts then created a chance for Corrig Mcgonigle after showing his pace to break down the right. However, Mcgonigle’s
shot was blocked by a visiting defender. But it wasn’t long before the prolific striker was again at the heart of the action.
After Mason Blackwell-jones was fouled near the right touchline with twenty minutes left, Mcgonigle stepped up to take the free kick. He curled in a precise shot from a tight angle to score with an almost identical effort to his second goal away to Colwyn Bay at the start of the season.
Flint Mountain pressed as the game entered the last ten minutes and came close after a goalmouth scramble. Ryan Kershaw then tested Carl Jones with two long range efforts that the keeper managed to repel.
There were no further chances of note as an impressive second half performance clinched a well deserved victory.
FULL-TIME: BANGOR 1876 4-1 FLINT MOUNTAIN
We have a blank weekend next weekend but will be back in action on Saturday, September 28 (2.30pm) when we are at home to Gresford Athletic in the league.