BANGOR City concluded Phase One of the JD Welsh Premier League season with a narrow 2-1 reverse at champions The New Saints of Oswestry Town.

The Citizens were undone by the slimmest of margins against the current pacesetters in what was a hard fought contest throughout, and they head into the second half of the campaign in third spot and 14 points behind the pacesetters.

Player-assistant manager Gary Taylor-Fletcher, said: “It was not the result we wanted going into the split, but I thought we deserved something from the game.

“I would like to thank all Bangor City fans for their support so far and we will need more of the same from them for the last ten games of the season.”

George Harry and Luke Wall caused plenty of problems early on for the visitors, but it was the home side who spurned the best chance of the early stages when Greg Draper volleyed over on 15 minutes.

The top scorer then forced a fabulous save out of stopper Matthew Hall after half an hour and the duo continued to do battle through the game with the latter coming out on top on numerous occasions.

After the break saw the hosts finally get their noses in-front on 79 minutes when Aeron Edwards finally found a way past the impressive Hall.

This joy proved to be short lived as City struck back almost immediately when Wall prodded home from close range on 83 minutes after Taylor-Fletcher’s effort had been cleared off the line.

The away side were undone again late on when defender Blaine Hudson netted a crucial winner for the full-timers on 86 minutes to ensure that Kevin Nicholson’s side had nothing to show for their efforts after a spirited display.