Buckley Town 1-0 Bangor City: Late Molyneux strike gives Bucks lift off
Buckley Town claimed a shock opening day victory in the Cymru North over Bangor City at The Globe on Friday night.
Substitute Phil Molyneux netted two minutes from time to Dan Moore’s side the victory and inflict defeat on one of the fancied sides for promotion this season.
The game started off quite frantically with both teams looking to get an early goal and the first chance fell to the home team as Jake Roberts took a free-kick and whipped in a dangerous cross into the box from the right-hand side and Tyler Garratt nearly headed the ball into his own net.
Roberts had a shot himself minutes later from distance but he could only drag it wide of goal.
The next half chance fell to the visitors as Tyler Garrat nearly made up for his earlier error as found Alex Boss with a ball into the box but Boss couldn’t control it and the ball went out for a goal kick.
Both teams started very frantically with a lot of energy and looked like they wanted to impress their managers in this season’s opener with plenty of half chances falling to either side.
The visitors had the first real chance of the game on 19 minutes when Giacomo Mello had a shot on goal but it was well saved by Josef Marakuk the Buckley Goalkeeper.
Moments later Mello even appealed for a penalty as he alleged that he was brought down in the box but referee Sion Davies didn’t agree.
Buckley had a chance to open the scoring when Asa Hamilton hit a well-powerful free kick from far out, Scott Reed the Bangor keeper did fumble the shot but it was pounced on and was cleared.
Bangor then had an opportunity as Isla Caviccillani capitalised on a mix-up at the back and passed it to Augustin Zicarelli who shot at goal but saw it cleared off the line.
There were a few more half-chances in this hectic half with the most notable being Robert’s snap shot after there was a bit of head tennis in the Bangor box but he could only drag it wide to the left.
The first piece of action to fall in the second half was when Giacomo Mello hit a ball into the box and Zicarelli was brought down but again the referee did not give a penalty.
Buckley had a penalty appeal moments later as Hamilton was brought down in the box. The referee did give the home side the penalty but then looked to his left to see that the play was given offside.
Giacomo Mello found Alex Boss on the wing and The winger then proceeded to hit a cross into Ziccarelli who headed goal bound but it was well saved by Josef Marakuk in the Buckley Goal
Roberts who had already had a few long-range efforts in this game already tried his luck again in the 70th minute as he hit a 30-yard effort goalwards but the Bangor keeper dived to his right to save well and push it out for a corner.
After being sent off in the 80th minute, Molyneux made the desired impact his manager expected.
He was found by Aled Bellis on the right-hand side, controlled the ball, and hit a powerful drive into the right-hand corner for what would be the game-clinching goal.
Bangor did push hard to try to get an equaliser but couldn’t muster any chances so the home side took all three points
Buckley Town: Josef Makaruk, Luke Blizard, Dylan Roberts, Samuel Wainwright (Joshua Jones, 78), Daniel Burgess, Christopher Roberts, Jake Roberts (Phil Molyneux, 80), Scott McHarrie, Asa Hamilton, Connor Litter (Shaun Tinsley 69), and Aled Bellis
Substitutes not used: Finlay Clough , Josh Allen
Goals: Phillip Molyneux 88′
Bangor City: Scott Reed, Tyler Garratt, Philipe Edmonds (Lucas Suber 57), Eridon Dida (Taylor Thain, 18), Jack Walsh, Isla Caccivillani, Giácomo Melloi, Alex Boss, Enzo Zicarelli (David Cartey, 73), Juan Torres Matanza and Federico Tobler
Substitutes not used: Shane Owen and Gethin Williams
