Bangor captain Sam Barnes focused on three points ahead of Gwynedd Derby

Bangor City captain Sam Barnes says his side are just focusing on obtaining three points when they travel to Gwynedd rivals Porthmadog.

The Citizens suffered defeat to Porthmadog at Nantporth earlier in the season under previous manager Craig Harrison at a well-attended fixture.

But on Boxing Day, new manager Gary Taylor-Fletcher will travel to Y Traeth as they aim for a final away victory of the year.

That defeat to Porthmadog earlier in the season isn’t playing in the mind of the Bangor captain Barnes, with

Barnes said: “We’re not looking for revenge as that breeds a wrong mentality going into the game we’re just looking to win and get points on board.

“They’re a good side and it will be tough, but hopefully there’s a big crowd.”

“The leagues standard is better than what most talked about. Maybe it’s because I’m at Bangor, that everyone raises their standards as you’re their biggest game.

That’s something I believe took a while to sink in with a few lads as we have the quality but in this league having the will to work harder than your opponent is first and foremost then the quality we have will show.”

Having made the move from Colwyn Bay where he was their captain also, the Citizens skipper wants to give something Bangor City fans to celebrate.

Next month, there’s another Gwynedd Derby on the horizon when Bangor City host Welsh Premier League outfit Caernarfon Town.

The two sides swapped divisions last season as Caernarfon claimed the Cymru Alliance title, whilst Bangor were demoted for failing to obtain the Tier One licence.

“I was delighted to join Bangor, it’s a massive club. The fans have been great with me so far and long may it continue. Hopefully, we can give them something to shout about soon especially with the Welsh Cup tie.

“What people need to understand is this group is here to try and get Bangor back where they and the fans belong and we as a group will do our best to bring the good times back.”

At the start of the season, Bangor City was expected to bounce back immediately from their demotion.

The Citizens were installed as favourites for the division, but after suffering a number of early-season defeats, they find themselves seventeen points behind the early pace-setters Airbus UK Broughton who have suffered just one defeat this season.

The title may be out of reach for Bangor now, but the Citizens are in the top four of the division as the club enters a transitional phase as they try to stabilise, following a huge player overhaul.

“I understand that as a club we should be winning this league but as a new group of players it’s not always about talent it’s about the lads all getting to know each other’s ability, said the former Colwyn Bay defender.

“People forget us lads were all put together in pre-season and it takes time to build a dressing room off the pitch which will see benefits on the pitch.

With the new manager, hopefully,y we have some stability and finish the season strong and if we keep winning and building the foundations we will get to were we want to be.”

Bangor City travel to Porthmadog on Boxing Day with a 14:30 kick-off scheduled at Porthmadog’s Y Traeth.

(Featured Image: Event Photo Wales)