Saints notch first win of season
TNS got their first Welsh Premier win of the season, but they had to put a dire first-half performance behind them to clinch the points.
Steven Beck finally made the breakthrough on the hour when he beat debutante City keeper Andrew Price from a narrow angle after a good run and crossfield ball from Jamie Wood.
But the Saints were at sixes and sevens before the break and could easily have been two goals down within the first five minutes.
Bangor put two successive defeats behind them with a performance that pleased mnager Peter Davenport and could have been two goals to the good within the opening five minutes but for good work from Saints' keeper Gerard Doherty.
First Alex Hay found Chris Priest who forced Doherty to save and the keeper was soon in action again when the lively Carl Lamb swept past Tommy Holmes before firing in a shot.
The first incisive attack from TNS saw Mark Davies, who had an impressive debut, square for Alfie Carter to lob just over the bar.
Steve Evans failed to find the net from an offside position after Scott Ruscoe's free kick before Ruscoe himself shot wide from a good position eight yards out.
The midfielder also provided a good one-on-one opening for Steven Beck which brought a good save from Bangor debutante Andy Price.
TNS stepped up a gear after the break to put the Citizens on the back foot, with Carter heading over from Beck's cross and again going close following a good move involving Davies and Michael Wilde.
Beck took his goal well but Bangor reacted immediately and Doherty produced a magnificent save from a Leyton Maxwell 25-yarder after a short free-kick.
As Bangor tired in the humid conditions, both sides took the opportunity to bring on all their substitutes which disrupted the flow of the game, but Marc Lloyd Williams marked his arrival with a somewhat fortuitous second goal with almost the last kick of the game.
Manager Ken McKenna will be relieved to get the win on the board, while City boss Peter Davenport was heartened by an improved performance from his men. |
