AN 84th minute strike from substitute Eddie Jebb fired Bangor City to a deserved win over professional outfit Neath at Farrar Road.
Jebb's strike sealed the points at the end of a contest that City dominated and although the Gnoll outfit put themselves about during the 90 minutes thanks to some weak refereeing from Kevin Morgan, City restricted the visitors and frontman Lee Trundle with some solid defending.
The Citizens, opening their Welsh Premier League campaign at Farrar Road, were ahead thanks to a Dave Morely penalty in the 23rd minute after a long Peter Hoy throw was handled by Liam Hancock.
However the Neath stopped, who miraculously avoided a booking in the incident, turned from villain to hero just five minutes later, poking in a rebound after Paul Smith saved a Kris O'Leary header.
Having been denied a stonewall penalty when the impressive Alan Bull was clearly upended by Paul Fowler in the visitor's area, the sides went in level.
Winger Sion Edwards went close seconds after the restart before Blues' boss Nev Powell changed things around, bringing on Les Davies for Craig Garside and switching his side from 4-5-1 to 4-4-2.
The result was that City took the game by the scruff of the neck, with Nicky Ward going close from a freekick and Chris Jones seeing an effort beaten away.
With a sluggish-looking Trundle effectively in the pocket of Bangor skipper James Brewerton the hosts pressed further for a second .
City carved out a great opportunity in the 73rd minute as a fine ball from Chris Roberts down the left was flicked on by Davies to release Edwards, only for Jebb to send his volley straight down the throat of Neath netminder Craig Roberts.
Still Bangor pressed and the Farrar Road faithful were on their feet in the 84th minute as Jebb was downed by Hancock in the area for a penalty, though the stopper once again avoided a caution.
Morley's spotkick was pushed away by Roberts but Edwards reacted too fast for the visiting defence as he crossed from the left and Jebb hammered home to seal an excellent opening day win for City.