Gavin Lee Redfern-Jones reports on an impressive win

Bangor 1876 paid visit to the DCBL Stadium in Widnes to face City of Liverpool. Held on a drizzly mid-July afternoon, the encounter between Michael Johnstons' men and The Purps would decide who would get to take home the FSA-supported Brian Lomax Trophy.

It was City of Liverpool who had the early chance just short of then ten-minute mark when a midfielder pounced onto a Bangor trialist's clearing header. His volley from the edge of the box was directed just over the bar.

Quarter of an hour later, Bangor came close to opening the scores. A one-two with Dale Davies saw a trialist trying to find a teammate with a low cutback pass from the right byline. Harry Galeotti retraced his steps at the far post in order to get on the end of the ball. Cutting inside to open up the shooting angle, his effort was calmly collected by the City of Liverpool goalkeeper.

Just before the half-hour mark, Bangor were awarded a free-kick after Corrig McGonigle's shirt was pulled whilst attempting to get on the end of a quick turnover ball from Galeotti which would have put him through on goal. With the ball set just inside the left side of the penalty arc, McGonigle sent a low outswinging attempt towards the right post, but the ball was clawed away by the Purps goalie.

Growing more confident as the first half progressed, Bangor would make the opportunities count just five minutes later. After receiving a pass from Mason Blackwell-Jones, and with his back towards goal, McGonigle rolled the ball into the path of an onrushing and unmarked Liam Morris, who was able to slot the opportunity away with a low first-time hit inside the left post and give Bangor a deserved lead.

With five minutes of regular time remaining, goalscorer Morris would almost turn goal creator when his flick-on header in the middle of the pitch found McGonigle in behind the defensive line and through on goal, but the striker couldn't quite find the angle as his shot was dragged just wide of the right post.

The referee blew for half-time and Bangor found themselves going into the break with a one-goal lead.

HALF-TIME: CITY OF LIVERPOOL FC 0 - 1 BANGOR 1876

Five minutes after the restart, Bangor would double their lead. After a Liam Morris header in the box was blocked, the City of Liverpool defenders were unable to put distance behind the resulting clearance and it fell kindly to McGonigle just inside the box. The striker chested the ball and sent a bullet volley ripping into the net, giving the Purps goalkeeper no chance to react.

Minutes later, City of Liverpool's newest addition Adam Morgan would launch a speculative effort from 30 yards out, hoping to catch Bangor goalkeeper Carl Jones off-guard. However, the ball wouldn't dip enough to threaten an equalising goal for City of Liverpool.

McGonigle too would attempt to catch the opposing goalie lacking in concentration. Just shy of the 70-minute mark, his 25-yard chip had the Purps stopper retreating towards his goal-line, but the ball wouldn't find the back of the net as it instead floated just above the crossbar.

For the remainder of the match, the game would settle into something of a lull with both sides battling for possession and territory whilst not carving out significant opportunities.

Bangor would hold onto their two-goal lead as the referee blew the whistle for full-time. The victory meant they were the winners of the Football Supporters' Association Shield and are recipients of the Brian Lomax Trophy, which club Captain Tomos Clarke held aloft in front of the travelling Bangor faithful.

FULL-TIME: CITY OF LIVERPOOL 0 - 2 BANGOR 1876