Without a fixture since the tail end of January, Bangor City's Under-19 Development side returned to action on Sunday afternoon as they hosted Flint Town United in the Welsh Premier Development League North.
The opening period sprung into life in the 25th minute as Alex Boss latched onto a lofted pass to the right hand side of the penalty area from Geraint Jones and drilled in a powerful shot from an acute angle to make the breakthrough for the Citizens.
Flint responded well and the home defence breathed a collective sigh of relief as a shot from the right hand edge of the area flashed across the face of the goal on 36 minutes. Five minutes before the interval and the scores were level as the Flint number 6 finished from close-range after City keeper Leon Jones had saved the initial effort.
Not to be outdone, the young Citizens struck back almost immediately as Gruff Stead whipped in a cross from the left touchline and Geraint Jones finished with aplomb at the near post (42 minutes) to restore the lead.
Half Time: Bangor City U19 2-1 Flint Town United U19
Six minutes after the restart and the returning Sam Ashworth saw a goalbound effort blocked by the Flint defence before the ball broke to Gruff Stead but the left wing back fired over. With 54 minutes played, Harry Hughes took flight down the left flank and his cross was nodded back at the far post to makeshift striker Cai Huws but his first-time volley flew wide of the upright.
Just before the hour mark, and Stead was again in the thick of the action as he broke forward at speed before cutting in and unleashing a shot from the edge of the box which whistled past the right hand post.
Flint then equalised with 63 minutes gone as the Silkmen's number 6 evaded his markers on the left hand byeline before pulling back a pass that was turned in by the number 3 at the near post. The visitors then had the opportunity to go ahead but Citizens' guardian Leon Jones pulled off a crucial save to deny the Flint number 10 as he bore down on goal.
On 67 minutes, Gruff Stead sent a low powerful delivery across Flint's six-yard box but nobody in a blue shirt could get the vital touch. City's Cai Huws and Gethin Thomas were both yellow carded on 69 minutes as they attempted to halt another powerful run from the Flint number 10.
Boss' second goal of the afternoon duly arrived after 71 minutes as he applied a right-footed finish from inside the area following Cai Huws' cross from the left flank. A minute later, and the lively winger was celebrating a hat-trick as he slotted home from six-yards after Jake Jones sent a pin-point cross in from the right hand side of the penalty area.
City continued to put their foot down on the accelerator as the Flint stopper produced a fine save to deny Cai Huws from Gruff Stead's corner kick on 74 minutes. Coach Dave Cavanagh then made two changes as Under-16's graduates Caio Hughes and Cian Williams made their Under-19's debuts as replacements for Cai Huws and the industrious Geraint Jones (76 minutes).
Flint also made a couple of changes as the clock ran down before Sam Ashworth sent a delightful chipped effort towards the top left hand corner only for the Flint keeper to pull off a fine fingertip save to deny a certain goal but concede a corner kick. The Flint keeper then blotted his copy book as he attempted to out-dribble Alex Boss from the aftermath of the resulting corner. Boss nicked the ball away with ease as the Silkmen stopper made a hash of things before coolly slotting home with his right foot for his fourth and City's fifth of the afternoon.
Full Time: Bangor City U19 5-2 Flint Town United U19