Under-19's Exit FAW Youth Cup at Cefn Druids

By Kevin Owen

Three set-piece goals prove undoing of Young Citizens at The Rock

Bangor City's Under-19 side travelled to Cefn Druids on Sunday with hopes of progressing in the FAW Youth Cup against opponents whom they had comprehensively beaten 4-0 in a WPDL encounter earlier in the season.

With the match barely five minutes old, the Citizens suffered a blow to those aspirations as Druids drew first blood. A corner kick from the right was only partially cleared and Alex Buxton finished emphatically from close range to give the hosts the perfect start.

Druids then went close to extending their lead on a couple of occasions with City grateful for Guto Williams' goal line clearance after 14 minutes to keep them within touching distance of a well-drilled and hungry Druids side.

Alex Boss then found himself in space as he raced in on goal but a combination of the keeper's save and some last-ditch defending kept the City forward from scoring.

Guto Williams was again in the action on 25 minutes when from a corner kick the ball fell invitingly for the young centre back to unleash a powerful snap shot that flew narrowly wide of the Druids upright.

The attacking trio of Sam Jones, Jake Jones and Alex Boss were prominent in City's forward movements but were well marshalled by the Druids often physical defensive rearguard and the Citizens went into the interval a goal behind.

Half-Time: Cefn Druids U19 1-0 Bangor City U19

City started the second period on the front foot and from a set-piece the ball broke loose to Jake Jones on the edge of the area and the young forward's volley whistled into the back of the net to level the scores at 1-1 on 47 minutes.

However, the Druids responded almost immediately and from yet another set-piece they were back in front as Isaac Lambert's looping header at the far post beat Leon Jones in the City goal (49 minutes).

With 67 minutes played in an often physical encounter, Citizens right back Harry Hughes was yellow carded by the overworked match official.

Two minutes later and the Druids went further ahead as yet another corner kick was floated over to the far post where Fin Williams met the delivery with a fierce header to put the Druids 3-1 to the good.

Manager Dave Cavanagh then made the first of his allocated substitutions as diminutive frontman Jason Banks replaced Hughes on 70 minutes.

City continued to search for a route back into the match with Alex Boss prominent on the left flank but the nimble forward was all too often halted by some aggressive defending.

On 78 minutes, midfielder Geraint Jones replaced Ben Williams. Probe as they might, the Druids backline was proving resilient and restricted the Citizens attacking prowess to half-chances and a series of late corner kicks.

One last change arrived with the introduction of Cai Huws in place of Gruff Stead (85 minutes) as the Citizens threw caution to the wind, but it was all to no avail as the hosts progressed into the next round of the FAW Youth Cup.

Full-Time: Cefn Druids U19 3-1 Bangor City U19

The Under-19's return to Welsh Premier Development League North action next Sunday when Caernarfon Town Under-19's are the visitors to Nantporth.