PICTURE BY WYNNE EVANS SHOWS HAT-TRICK HERO LES DAVIES (BLUE) ON THE BALL FOR 1876.
LES DAVIES was the hat-trick hero as Bangor 1876 continued their perfect start to the 21/22 North Wales Coast West Premier season with a 4-0 win over a Gwalchmai side who showed great fight.
The visitors started off brightly with veteran attacker Chris Jones going close early on only to see his effort saved by Konner Druce in the Gwalchmai goal. Soon after, Sam Roberts lobbed the ball over Druce but a Gwalch defender managed to clear the ball away.
Gwalch then went close to breaking the deadlock themselves – young talent Connor Owen (below) found a way into the box and went one-on-one with 1876 shot-stopper Mark Hawkins but the keeper saved well with his feet.
The opening period of the game proved to be a closely-fought battle with both teams having good opportunities to go in front. But, it was the visitors who would eventually strike first.
Former top-flight star Les Davies finished well soon before the break following some neat play with midfielder Sam Roberts to put 1876 1-0 up at the interval.
In the second half, 1876 began to show their class a little more and took things up a gear – with their second goal arriving just seven minutes after the restart.
Roberts again turned provider, this time for attacker Jamie Petrie who provided a clinical finish from the edge of the box to double the visitors’ advantage.
Shortly before the hour mark, Joe Culshaw came close to scoring 1876’s third but his effort was parried away for a corner by Druce.
A third goal did arrive for Bangor inside the last ten minutes however when Harry Galeotti ran down the left before sending in a cross for to powerfully head in his second goal of the match.
Davies then completed his hat-trick in the dying moments of the match. A kick up field by Hawkins found the powerful striker in acres of space on the right side and he finished brilliantly with a trademark lob.
Gwalch almost what would have been a deserved goal right at the death too – Connor Owen latching onto a ball forward ahead of Hawkins in goal but the striker’s touch took him too far wide allowing for defenders to recover and deny him the chance to score.
Six wins out of six for 1876 now then, 40 goals scored and just the 3 conceded – they are of course the favourites to win the division and are already proving they can do just that, remains in second three points behind Nefyn who they have two games in hand over.
Liam Ewing’s Gwalch side can take great pride from that performance though and showed great signs of really clicking as a team.
GWALCHMAI TEAM: Konner Druce, Sam Jones, Harry Jones, Declan Jones (C), Darren Roberts, Cameron Jones, Elliott Breaks, Alexander Cooper, Connor Owen, Jordan Jones, Luke Jones
BANGOR 1876 TEAM: Mark Hawkins, Joe Culshaw, Cian Williams, Tom Clarke, Corey Jones, Mike Johnston (C), Jamie Petrie, Luke Steele, Les Davies, Sam Roberts, Chris Jones
Elsewhere in the league, Penrhyndeudraeth claimed a huge 1-0 win at fellow tier four title-chasers and current league-leaders Nefyn United.
Iwan Thomas’ 52nd minute goal was the only difference in the tie – a big three points for Iwan Williams’ side who will be looking to go for the title this season.
Llanberis beat Amlwch Town 5-0 thanks to goals from Tom Saynor (2), Kurt Hellfeld (2) and Callum MacDonald – a win that sees them up to seventh in the table.
Llanrug United meanwhile are up to sixth in the table thanks to a 3-2 win over Aberffraw. Arwel Williams put Berffro ahead in the first half but second half goals from Owain Jones, Carl Griffiths and Sion Phillips turned the tie around. Nathan Moore struck a goal back for Berffro on 70mins but Llanrug held on for the win.
Finally, Mynydd Llandegai hammered Pentraeth 8-1. Striker Alwyn Roberts fired in a hat-trick, Sion Devereux and Aaron Davies-Thomas bagged a brace each and Ben Parker added the other before Leon Owen scored a late consolation for Pentraeth.
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