BANGOR City’s hopes of a top two Huws Gray Alliance finish were dealt a blow as they fell to a 6-2 defeat at Prestatyn Town.

The youthful Citizens were unable to build on a positive first half display as Town turned the screw in the second period, and the result leaves Gary Taylor-Fletcher’s side in fifth spot and eight points behind Flint Town United with two games in hand.

A huge game awaits the club this weekend as fierce rivals Rhyl visit the Eurogold Stadium for the latest chapter of a storied rivalry on Friday evening (7.30pm).

The home side made an exceptional start and went ahead on nine minutes through a 20-yard thunderbolt from skipper Alex Jones, and they doubled their advantage when Danny Davies turned in a Macauley Taylor cross with 12 gone.

City managed to pick themselves up following a lacklustre opening to the tie, and player-manager Taylor-Fletcher’s looping header got them on the score board on 21 minutes.

This was followed by another from the away side which came courtesy of a sensational individual effort from Jacob Farleigh before the break, but Town turned the screw after the interval and restored their cushion through a Dave Hayes header on 68 minutes.

Davies notched his second of the evening soon after, and the rampant Town outfit ran riot in the closing stages thanks to goals from Taylor and Hayes to complete the rout.

Next up for City is a Rhyl side that come into the game one place above them in the standings and on the back of a goalless draw at Guilsfield.

A win would see the Citizens’ move above the Lilies’ in the standings and boost their hopes of runners-up spot after Airbus Broughton clinched the title last weekend.