Gavin Lee Redfern-Jones reports

A save from Carl Jones in the penalty shootout meant Bangor 1876 progressed through to the second round of the Welsh Blood Service League Cup, at the expense of Caersws.

The Recreation Ground hosted a cup encounter between the two JD Cymru North outfits, who entered into the competition in differing form - Bangor on the back of wins against Llandudno and Llay Welfare, whilst Caersws were looking for better fortune following defeats to Denbigh Town and Holywell Town.

Bangor almost took an early lead when Mason Blackwell-Jones got on the end of a long, diagonal ball from deep by left-back Telor Williams. As he entered the right side of the box, Blackwell-Jones faked a cross to lose his marker and cut back on the inside of Caersws defender Dylan Downs. His curling, left-footed shot threatened to creep inside at far-post, but Caersws goalkeeper Steffan Jones reacted well to punch the ball clear on the stretch.

Bangor would threaten again at the ten-minute mark when Sam Jones delivered a cross from a left corner-kick that found Dion Jones unmarked at the far-post. From a standing position, the midfielder's glancing header went out of play for a goal kick.

With 15-mimutes played, Caersws were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box after James Barry was judged to have fouled Joshua Astley. Forward Max McLaughlin stepped up to take the free-kick, which fizzed towards the top-left corner and Bangor stopper Carl Jones had to be on his toes to palm the effort out of play for a Caersws corner.

Caersws took the lead halfway through the first-half when Dillon Browne’s floated, medium range pass was met on the run by Astley, whose low right-footed volley on the edge of the box crept inside of the right-post.

Caersws nearly doubled their lead on the half-hour mark when after riding a challenge from Williams, McLaughlin was through on goal. He rolled the ball to team-mate Astley to his right which took goalkeeper Jones out of the equation. With the goal wide open, Caersws looked certain to bag their second goal of the afternoon, but the retreating Dan Cox got back in time to clear Astley's effort just as it approached the six-yard box.

A chipped ball from Bangor’s Williams found winger Sam Jones breaking in to left side of the penalty box. Attacking the left-byline, Jones pulled the ball back towards Blackwell-Jones in the centre of the penalty box. Although his attempt was scuffed, the ball rolled kindly to striker Corrig McGonigle at the far post, who tucked the opportunity away for his fifth goal in all competitions this season and bring Bangor 1876 back on level-terms with five minutes left in the first-half.

Caersws almost retook the lead before the half-time break when Craig William’s left-corner was met at the far-post by defender Harry Cottam. His looping header brushed the top side of the crossbar and bounced out for a goal kick.

The referee blew the whistle to call an end to a fairly-contested first half with both sides heading into the break with a goal apiece.

HALF-TIME: CAERSWS 1 - 1 BANGOR 1876

Seven minutes after the restart, Bangor’s Tom Mahoney delivered a flat cross from the left-wing which found the feet of James Barry. The youngster rolled the ball to Blackwell-Jones behind him on the penalty arc. Knocking the ball slightly to his left to open a shooting opportunity, he sent a low, powerful shot towards the bottom-left corner, which drew a great save from Caersws goalie Steffan Jones and forced a corner kick.

Twenty minutes later saw Caersws' best chance in the second half when a long throw-in from Rhys Hesden was launched towards the centre of the penalty box and Dillon Browne’s flick-on header was inches wide of the post.

Bangor had a great opportunity to nick a winner in the final minute of regular time when Joe Culshaw contested and won a header just inside the final third. The ball fell in the direction of Craig Whelan who then stretched in order to knock the ball into the path of Harry Galeotti free to his right, but the winger’s low shot across the face of goal went wide.

A somewhat uneventful second half was brought to a close and with the scores level, the match headed straight to a penalty shootout.

END OF 90 MINUTES: CAERSWS 1 - 1 BANGOR 1876

Bangor went first from the spot. With McGonigle and Culshaw succeeding from Bangor’s first two penalties, Caersws scored their first two penalties from Rhys Hesden and Sam Phillips, despite Carl Jones getting a hand to the latter’s attempt. Tom Mahoney took Bangor’s third penalty, which he placed low to the bottom-left corner. Dillon Browne lined up to take the following penalty for Caersws, but his medium-height effort to the left was saved by a diving Carl Jones. Galeotti succeeded with Bangor’s fourth penalty by firing to the right side of the goal, giving Bangor a 4-2 penalty shootout lead and putting the pressure on Caersws. Joshua Astley’s penalty low to the left of the goal gave Caersws a lifeline - Carl Jones got a hand to the ball but could not direct it away to safety. For Bangor’s fifth and decisive penalty, up stepped Tomos Clarke who deceived Steffan Jones between the sticks by striking the ball down the middle of the goal, giving Bangor a 5-3 victory in the penalty shootout.

FULL TIME: CAERSWS 1 - 1 BANGOR 1876 (Bangor 1876 win 5-3 on penalties)