Both sides happy to settle for a point

RIVAL managers Viv Williams and Nev Powell both expressed satisfaction with a point apiece gained from the rain and windswept derby that had everything except goals.

Williams said: “To gain a point from decent opposition of Bangor’s calibre is a credit but we are disappointed that we did not take all three points because we had the better chances.

“The lads did excellently, stuck to the game plan to a man and it worked, but because of the plight we are in we needed more from the game.”

Counterpart Powell, whose side have ambitions of earning a European spot next season, said: “An away point is always valuable and especially in view of the difficult weather conditions, with the wind and rain spoiling the game as a spectacle.

“Porthmadog used a 4-5-1 formation, which was not easy to combat.

“And the fact they have narrowed the pitch, by moving in the touchlines by a few yards on either side, cramped our style in the end.”

Both camps were left to ponder over attempts that crashed against the woodwork, Ryan Davies for Porthmadog and Karl Noon for Bangor.

One of the game’s talking points was a penalty claim by the hosts midway in the first half when Carl Owen was tackled by City’s Mike Johnston, but well-placed referee Phil Southall waved on play.

Home midfielder Gareth Parry, who had started the season at Farrar Road, was close to stunning his former team-mates a couple of times, with a strong shot and header that flashed close.

Bangor’s better moments included Les Davies seeing a goal-bound shot fended away by brother Ryan – his marker for the day – and Peter Hoy’s low cross that was cut out at the last second by John G Jones.

There was an early scare for Porthmadog when Bangor’s Sion Edwards cut in from the right wing, leaving defenders in his wake, only to direct his angled shot into the side netting.

The home side’s Mark Thomas then wasted a free header after being unchallenged when Marcus Orlik’s free-kick arrived in the box.

Team-mate Dave Hughes began the second half with a dazzling run and shot that brought a fine full-length save from goalkeeper Paul Smith and Porthmadog finished the game the stronger of the two sides.

Smith did well for the visitors in holding a header by Carl Owen and Parry cut in from the left only to see his fierce effort flash just past the post.

But the visitors went close to stealing the points at the death when substitute Noon got free of his marker and rattled the woodwork.