Boss Neville Powell has praised his Bangor City players' Europa Cup heroics

Bangor City regained some European pride as the Welsh part-timers lost valiantly 2-1 to Portuguese giants Maritimo in their Europa Cup qualifier.

Striker Alan Bull gave the Welsh Cup winners a shock lead in Wrexham as the summer signing scored his first goal since his move from Cammell Laird.

Bangor's interval lead was overturned as Maritimo's Brazilian strikers struck twice in 12 minutes after half-time.

Adilson and Lubel Marquinho and scored to end Bangor's brave resistance.

The Madeira side progressed through comfortably 10-3 on aggregate but the North Walians restored some well-deserved pride at the Racecourse following last week's third qualifying round first-leg 8-2 hammering.

Bangor City manager Neville Powell said:

"The lads did the city proud and played very well tonight.

"Some of Maritimo's Brazilian players are Premier League quality and to put it in perspective, we are a part-time club with semi-professional players playing against top-quality opposition.

"But we have scored three goals against them over the two games. There are certainly a lot more plusses out of the two games than minuses.

"The last month has been a bit of a fairytale for us as the lads have been over to Finland and beaten Honka over two-legs and been to Madeira and played some top quality opposition."

Bangor City: Smith, Hoy, Morley (c), Johnston, Roberts, Garside (Hurdman, 67), Ward, Bull, Edwards (Williams, 77), Jebb (Davies, 66), Jones.
Subs not used: Mulliner, Limbert, Owen.

Goals: Bull 10

Booked: Ward 47,Jebb 51

Maritimo: Marcelo, Briguel, Joao Guilherme, Luciano Amaral, Robson, Tcho, Rafael Miranda, Danilo Dias (Luis Olim, 63), Adilson (Fidelis, 72), Marquinho (Duventru-Huret, 80), Baba Diawara.
Subs: Pecanha, Alonso, Esteves, Roberto Sousa.

Goals: Adilson 47, Lubel Marquinho 57

Referee: Mihaly Fabian (Hungary)

Attendance: 556

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