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Last Updated: Wednesday, 13 April, 2005, 19:51 GMT 20:51 UK
Bangor City 1-2 Wrexham
Wrexham midfielder Mark Jones
Mark Jones sent the holders through the FAW Premier Cup final
Wrexham needed a late goal to beat a brave Bangor side and book a place in the FAW Premier Cup final with Swansea.

Paul Roberts put Bangor ahead with a superb diving header from Paul Friel's near-post cross after 26 minutes.

Wrexham had a goal ruled out for offside and Carl Lamb hit a post for Bangor before the end of the half.

Chris Armstrong got the equaliser from a penalty after being brought down, and then Mark Jones grabbed an 85th minute winner just as extra-time loomed.

Hector Sam's forceful run down the left caused the damage, and his cut-back from the byeline was coolly slotted home by Jones.

Holders Wrexham fielded seven of Sunday's LDV Vans winners in their starting line-up, with scores Darren Ferguson and Juan Ugarte ready to come off the bench if required.

As expected, League One side Wrexham dominated possession from the start and created two clear opportunities in the opening 10 minutes.

Both fell to striker Sam - his deflected shot was saved by Phil Priestley and then he put a left-footed shot wide from eight yards out when he should have done better.

Bangor's opener certainly came against the run of play, but it was a goal to grace any occasion.

Their long throws caused us problems, but luckily we got the two goals and got the win
Wrexham's man-of-the-match goalkeeper Ben Foster

Seconds beforehand, Clayton Blackmore had tested the Wrexham keeper with Bangor's first shot on target, and it was Ben Foster's quick throw out that led to the goal.

Welsh Premier side Bangor picked up possession in Wrexham's half, Tony Grey fed Friel who fired an inviting cross which Roberts converted expertly.

Wrexham thought they had found a way back into the match before half-time when Armstrong found the back of the net.

Their joy was short-lived as the assistant referee had already flagged (wrongly as television replays would show) for offside.

Bangor, making their first appearance in this stage of the competition, then went agonisingly close to doubling their lead before the break.

Carl Lamb went sent clean through as Wrexham centre back Craig Morgan slipped, but the striker's shot was deflected onto the post by Foster and the visitors cleared for a corner.

Lamb had another one-on-one with Forster early in the second half, but the goalkeeper again came to Wrexham's rescue.

Armstrong and Jones forced Priestley two saves in quick succession, before the keeper was at full stretch to keep out another Armstrong header on the hour.

But Priestley then turned from hero to villain when he needlessly tripped Armstrong after fumbling a straightforward cross.

The striker converted confidently into Priestley's bottom right-hand corner.

Bangor almost hit back immediately, but Foster clawed away Gray's close-range header inches in front of the goal line.

With 15 minutes to go, Foster produced the save of the match to tip over Owain Jones' header from just inside the six yard box.

Wrexham were preparing to bring Ferguson on for the final 10 minutes, but Jones' goal changed all that.

Bangor almost forced an equaliser, but the outstanding Foster produced another fine save as he tipped a Les Davies header over the bar.




SEE ALSO
FAW Premier Cup 2004/5
29 Jan 05 |  Welsh
Foster wants to stay at Wrexham
11 Apr 05 |  Wrexham
Smith buoyed by LDV Vans triumph
10 Apr 05 |  Wrexham
Southend 0-2 Wrexham
10 Apr 05 |  Football



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