BANGOR City manager Kevin Nicholson hailed his side’s performance as they secured a 2-1 success at Cardiff Met.

The Citizens boosted their hopes of a top-two finish with their fourth victory in their last five games, and they have now equalled their win record of last season with four games left to play.

They face a huge test of their credentials this Saturday when City host JD Welsh Premier League champions The New Saints of Oswestry Town in front of the S4C Sgorio cameras (5.15pm).

Nicholson, said: “We knew it was a vital game and I am delighted we have won it in the way we did.

“It is only three points but it is important and I have said if we can take more points that we did in the first half of Phase Two then we are going to be in a very strong position indeed.

“It was a very tactical game but we tried to keep doing the things that we had been doing all week in training, and we also had to do some things differently which made it an interesting battle that we have won in the end.

“The second goal and the way we scored it was good enough to win any game. There will be plenty of twists and turns to come with the three of us competing for the second position, and our focus has to be on the next game and delivering the best performance we possibly can.”

Alex Darlington repaid his manager’s faith by opening the scoring on the half hour mark, but the Archers struck back almost instantly when Emlyn Evans headed home on 37 minutes.

After the break saw the away side get their noses in front yet again thanks to a sensational effort from Dean Rittenberg, who diverted a superb Stephen Hewitt cross into the net to give the European hopefuls a crucial three points.