Porthmadog 2 Bangor City 1
Loosemoore's Challenge Cup
Before this game there was talk of a massive firm bent on revenge. Reprisals would be visited upon us. It was going to involve hell and brimstone type stuff. Due to this Dewi and I travelled with a pensive air to Porthmadog. On the way we stopped for some gunk masquerading as food in the Caernarfon McDonald's. I was informed by the person serving that here was not the right place to come wearing a Bangor shirt, more threats and we hadn't even reached Porthmadog yet.
On the way to Port we were passed at high speed by GPO, Bangor's President. At least we knew that they would be more than just the two of us to face the wrath of Port's finest. Arriving in Port we found ourselves a little lost, as unsignposted destinations have tendency to do. Dewi remebered the way eventually and we made our way to the car park, no sign of trouble yet.
We got in and went to the club shop, no sign of a lynching. We queued up for refreshment, still no off. We took our places behind the goal, no approaching mob yet. Dewi had a china cup from the snack bar to help defend ourselves when the onslaught would materialise. The game then kicked off. There were a grand total of about 15 Blues in the crowd so the attack would mean sticking together.
The game went on as both Bangor and Porthmadog attacked, looking equally as dangerous. Both teams had chances but Bangor's looked to be putting their's closer to the goal. After about 35 minutes Mash appeared from the stand and so our numbers were up to 16. The score at half time was 0-0 so at least we weren't losing.
At half time the clubhouse called lest we should sample a bit of local hospitality. In all my years of watching football I have never witnessed an act of thuggery so premeditated and harmful in my life; Dewi was sitting there and a chip appeared on his leg, covered in tomato ketchup for good measure. Was this wanton act of Hooliganism a prelude? We were so shocked and stunned by the ferocity of this unprovoked attack that we retreated to the safety of the stand. Personally I blame the parents.
The second half started and Bangor only appeared to have ten players and Clayton had gone missing. About 5 minutes in we noticed that Bangor had their full compliment of players because Clayton had in fact gone in goal, what a hero!!! We checked with the kit man and he said that Havard had injured his groin. A few minutes later we saw another peculiar sight; Jiws was physio. I'd query his qualifications myself. When he came on did this mean he was now a Player-Physio? How would he treat players if he was playing? Who would treat him? Was the world going mad? This game had certainly developed a bizarre edge.
This half saw some of Bangor's best attacking play all season as constant attacks made the citizens look very dangerous. Bangor eventually scored through a long range Jacobs piledriver after Jiws had replaced McGuinnes (Treated by Jiws but unfit to to continue, I'm not saying nothing, nudge, nudge, wink, wink.) Bangor then scored again, another Jacobs shot. This time the goal was mainly due top an error from harvey, much to the merriment of the Bangor Ultras, now numbering 20 odd. Let that be a lesson to goalkeepers, Do not under any circumstances indulge in any banter with the crowd as it may come back to haunt you.
Speaking of banter you really have to admire the Port fans' attempts to goad Bangor. Apparently we're not famous anymore and they hate us. That they are one of the few teams to bring any away fans to Farrar Road tends to suggest that they find Bangor to be rivals. They also seem to think that Bangor are rivals that need to be taken down a peg or two, something that is suggested by their reaction when they beat Bangor. I wonder if they appreciated the irony of that? I certainly did or was I using my value judgements pejoratively? Were they branching out on a new realm of philosophical discourse? Were they deconstructing the traditional notions of social strata and power relations? In essence, were their songs ironic?. The fact that Port's biggest modern claim to fame is their connection to a TV series whose main character makes desperate attempts to get out of the area says all you need to know about Port in my opinion
Now surely Port would get back in the game and deny Bangor victory as they had done recently. They didn't score until the last 2 minutes so it didn't really materialise. Their reprisals didn't materialise either as we left still checking over our shoulders as you can't be too sure. It was only when we were back in Bangor that we could finally bask in the glory of the performance without fear of attack.
Another game, another victory.
