Football: Bangor City FC sign Rhyl striker

Feb 3 2010

BANGOR CITY 3 ABERAMAN ATHLETIC 1

WELSH CUP ROUND FOUR

THIS Sunday’s much-awaited Welsh Premier clash between Bangor and Rhyl has been given added spice by City signing Lilywhites striker Lee Hunt in the transfer window.

The fiery frontman netted twice for the Lilies in last September’s 5-1 win over Bangor at Belle Vue, but will line up on the opposite side for the Sabbath derby.

It will be a second spell at Farrar Road for Hunt, who joined Rhyl from City in 2003.

Champions Rhyl began the campaign on fire, but have since slipped to third with well-documented off-the-field problems affecting their progress.

Bangor, meanwhile, have overcome an uncharacteristically poor start to the campaign by winning five of their last six league encounters. Neville Powell’s men are in ninth spot, but victory over Airbus UK Broughton last night (Tuesday) would have lifted them a couple of notches.

"Rhyl is a massive game for us," said Powell. "It’s going to be a really tough month, but the confidence we’ve gained from recent victories will help us."

City defender James Brewerton will be suspended for the clash against his old club, while defender Peter Hoy’s fitness is being assessed.

Meanwhile, the Citizens advanced to the Welsh Cup quarter-finals on Saturday after seeing off Welsh League Division One champions Aberaman.

The reward for the holders is a home meeting with mighty Llanelli, the team Bangor beat in the 2008 final, on February 27.

"A home draw was all we could have hoped for," said Powell, now unbeaten in 15 Welsh Cup ties as City boss.

"All the other sides left in the competition are quality, so whoever we got it was going to be difficult.

"We’ve had two close games with Llanelli this season and should have got something from both, but this will be a chance to set the record straight and they won’t be relishing coming up here to face the holders."

Saturday’s tie at Farrar Road saw Aberaman take a shock 18th minute lead through a John Phillips volley and it could have been worse but for Paul Smith’s save from a Jonathan Kift shot.

Michael Johnston also had to clear off his own line from a Greg Palmer effort, but on 33 minutes impressive City debutant Eddie Jebb picked out Jamie Reed who scored with a cracking shot on the turn.

Reed’s free-kick was superbly tipped over by Gareth Williams before the break.

Five minutes after the restart Dave Morley and Ashley Stott combined to find Reed, whose lovely pass released Craig Garside and he rounded the keeper to make it 2-1.

City now piled on the pressure, Reed’s strike being cleared off the line by Sam Jacobsen, Jebb firing over and Williams denying Stott, who also clipped the bar.

Finally, in the 90th minute Samir Misbah brought down the marauding Reed as he ran into the box and a penalty was awarded. Reed converted to make it 14 goals this season.

"We made hard work of it," admitted Powell. "We started slowly, they got a goal, but then we picked up the tempo and created chance after chance. They were still in it until we scored that late third goal, but we should have had double figures."