Thanks to Matt Johnson and Gavin Lee Redfern-Jones for this match report.

1876 began attacking the Bridge end under an azure sky of deepest Summer. It took a few minutes for both sides to settle, the first incident of note was a Free Kick taken by Corrig McGonigle in the fifth minute but the shot struck the wall.

For the next ten or so minutes 1876 attacked with vigour. One of the main catalysts for this was Mason Blackwell Jones as his effort gave 1876 forward momentum. Harry Galeotti hit the post with an effort in the 15th minute and the blues used both wings to exert pressure upon the mid-Walian visitors.

The match became more even in the next 10 minutes as both sides tested each other. The visitors took the lead in the 27th minutes when an attack down the right propelled the ball to the feet of Hyne and he made no mistake with a close range finish.

Another burst from Blackwell Jones almost produced an equaliser in the 29th minute but his attacking progress was ended by the solidity of Guilsfield stopper Luke Evans. A couple of minutes later saw an 1876 corner create an opportunity for Iolo Hughes at the far post but his header struck a defender.

The visitors increased their lead in additional time at the end of the half when another move down the wing ended with a Iwan Matthews shot that passed Bradley Farrar from a relatively tight angle.

HALF-TIME: BANGOR 1876 0 - 2 GUILSFIELD

Bangor pulled a goal back five minutes after the restart. Harry Galeotti broke into the box in an attempt to get on the end of a deep cross from the left wing and Guilsfield goalkeeper Evans darted out of his goal to provide a punching clearance, but the ball fell kindly to Blackwell-Jones whose 30-yard first-time volley lobbed the retreating Evans and crept under the crossbar for Bangor’s first goal of the match.

Blackwell-Jones almost turned provider on the hour-mark. From an area just short of the centre circle, Joe Culshaw was able to pick out his midfield partner inside the attacking half. With a drop of the shoulder, Blackwell-Jones was able to lose his fast-approaching marker by receiving the ball on the turn. Driving and almost breaking into the box, Blackwell-Jones spread the ball to his left into the path of Sam Jones just inside the penalty box. The winger’s shot across the face of goal went agonisingly wide.

Guilsfield restored their two-goal lead ten minutes later. Capitalising on a loose pass from Bangor captain Tomos Clarke, Guilsfield’s Daniel Tisley found himself in the box with just Bangor goalkeeper Bradley Farrar to beat and unselfishly squared the ball for teammate Joe Haycock to finish into an empty net, giving Guilsfield their third goal of the afternoon.

The result was made certain 10 minutes from time when Spencer Parrish’s shot from the left side of the box took a slight deflection off Bangor centre-back Iolo Hughes. The altered direction of the ball took it beyond the reach of Farrar towards the centre of the goal, after the goalie scrambled to cover his near-post.

Bangor still went in search of a goal to reduce the deficit. With two minutes of regular time remaining, Bangor’s right-back Cai Powell-Roberts attacked the right-wing. After cutting back inside to deliver with his left-foot, his cross was blocked. The airborne ball was chested down on the edge of the box by a retreating James Barry into the path of Blackwell-Jones, whose left-footed volley from just to the right of the penalty arc was unable to find the target.

Guilsfield held onto their three-goal lead to emerge victorious as the referee blew his whistle for full-time.

FULL-TIME: BANGOR 1876 1 - 4 GUILSFIELD

The defeat means Bangor end the weekend in 7th place in the JD Cymru North league standing, whilst Guilsfield’s first victory of the season lifts them out of the relegation spots and into 12th position.

Our next match is away to Llandudno in the JD Cymru North on Friday 23 August at 7.45pm.