Football: Prestatyn Town FC draw with Bangor

Dec 10 2008 By Dave Jones

PRESTATYN TOWN 2 BANGOR CITY 2

WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE

THIS weekend’s visit to struggling Caersws will present Prestatyn with the best chance yet of ending their away-day jinx, believes Seasiders assistant manager Martyn Jones.

While boasting an outstanding home record of eight matches unbeaten, the Welsh Premier new boys have so far claimed just one point from seven games on their travels.

It is fair to say the majority of Prestatyn’s trips have been to the league’s stronger sides, but Saturday’s opponents currently lie fourth bottom with just three wins, although all have come at the Recreation Ground.

"We’d love to get that first away win and this will be our best chance so far," said Jones. "However, we’re likely to have a few players missing again through injury."

With six regulars absent and facing fourth-placed Bangor on Saturday, the odds on Prestatyn keeping their undefeated record at Bastion Road appeared slim.

Yet the Seasiders came from behind twice to snatch a draw and with better finishing could easily have taken all three points.

"We played really well," Jones added. "We deserved more out of it as we created the better chances against a very good side.

"We were disappointed at the goals we conceded; these little lapses keep costing us, but we’re improving all the time."

Bangor took a 12th minute lead when player manager Neil Gibson gave the ball away in midfield and Les Davies released Chris Sharp who rounded keeper Jon Dunt before slotting home.

Seven minutes later Town were level when a terrible slip from Jamie Brewerton left Ian Griffiths clear on goal and the team’s top scorer made it eight for the season with a powerful finish.

Griffiths should have made it 2-1 but somehow blazed over an open goal from two yards after great play down the right by Dan Evans.

Straight from the second half kick-off Prestatyn were caught napping when Sharp robbed Jamie Duffy and put Davies through to coolly drill past Dunt and edge the Citizens ahead.

On 58 minutes Bangor right-back Dave Swanick received a second yellow card for a dreadful challenge on Jack Lewis, but the visitors remained in control.

Peter Hoy’s effort was cleared off the line by man of the match Bevan Humphreys and Sharp’s back-header clipped the crossbar.

In the 76th minute Gibson gambled by taking defender Duffy off and giving teenage striker Karl Murray his WPL debut.

It proved a master stroke as within three minutes of taking the field, Murray finished from close range after Evans’ cross from the left eventually arrived at his feet following head tennis involving Steve Bowes, Steve Harris and Griffiths.

Both teams went close to a decider in the closing stages. Lewis’ wonder pass found Bowes who had just keeper Paul Smith to beat but his chip went agonisingly wide.

At the other end Dunt produced good stops from Sharp and Davies, but there was to be no winner.

PRESTATYN: Dunt, Duffy (Murray 76), J Lewis, Jones (c), Humphreys, Parker, Evans, Gibson, Griffiths, G Davies (Bowes 64), Harris. Unused subs: Hoyle, Woodfine, G Lewis. Att: 489.