HOLDERS CITY DUMP RHYL OUT OF CUP

BANGOR CITY 1 (Sharp 67)
RHYL 1 (Strong 88)
WELSH CUP ROUND FOUR
(after extra time - Bangor win 4-2 on penalties)
FEW could deny Bangor were worthy winners of an epic Welsh Cup tie at Farrar Road.
Reduced to 10 men after just 16 minutes following skipper Marc Limbert's sending off, Neville Powell's team simply refused to give in and their superior penalty taking ability ultimately ensured they marched into the quarter-finals.
Rhyl had enough chances to win three ties, but a mixture of poor finishing and heroic City defending meant the Lilywhites lost their second cup game at Ffordd Farrar this season.
The kick-off was delayed for 15 minutes because of crowd congestion at the turnstiles, but the first half proved a non-event with neither keeper tested.
The only incident of note was the 16th minute straight red card for Limbert following an altercation with Chris Roberts. Rhyl also picked up four yellows during the half.
Bangor's biggest danger in the opening 45 was the outstanding Chris Sharp, his header from a Christian Seargeant corner flying straight at keeper Michael Jones while the ex-Rhyl forward also had a goalbound shot blocked.
The visitors' closest effort was a Greg Stones drive which hit the side netting.
The second stanza was a lot more incident-packed, Rhyl's Craig Jones forcing the first testing save for either side from Paul Smith with a header from a Luke Holden cross on 47 minutes.
Rhyl had free-kicks from two great positions but made a complete hash of both, but the Lilies were getting the upper hand.
Mark Connolly's shot came back off Smith but no-one was able to finish, then Bangor survived a desperate goalmouth scramble from a Stones cross.
It was against the run of play when City notched a 67th minute lead.
Sharp showed tremendous determination to break down the right into the box and from an acute angle drilled in his 22nd goal of the season, Jones getting a hand to his effort but unable to stop it finding the net.
Rhyl now piled on the pressure and the Bangor defence challenged their opponents to break them down.
Some woeful shooting from the visitors made City's lives easier, but Smith made a great reaction stop to hold a Neil Roberts effort.
The hosts were holding on until in the 88th minute a Holden corner was hooked across goal by Neil Roberts and defender Greg Strong headed home at the back post.
City escaped from another frantic goalmouth melee before referee Mark Whitby blew for the end of the 90 minutes.
Extra-time
Down to 10 men, seemingly tiring and having been on the backfoot for over 20 minutes surely Bangor were doomed? Not a bit of it, Powell's warriors raised their game once more.
In the first period, Seargeant fired just wide from a free-kick and Michael Walsh headed narrowly over, while at the other end hero Smith produced two great stops from substitute Jamie Reed and Holden, and Martin Beattie nearly found his own net.
The second 15 minutes saw for the Lilies, Strong head over from a free-kick, Connolly's left footer hit the bottom of the upright and Holden struck the post when he should have done much better after Neil Roberts' miskick.
In the final act, George Horan met a cross six-yards out with his head - a goal surely? No, Smith saved again.
Substitute Kevin Lloyd's header dipped just over for the all-blues and the lively Sion Edwards went close.
No winner had emerged so it was down to penalties.
PENALTY SHOOT OUT
Rhyl: Neil Roberts hit bar 0-0
Bangor: Chris Seargeant made no mistake - 1-0 City
Rhyl: Matthew Williams scores 1-1
Bangor: Peter Hoy sends keeper wrong way - 2-1 City
Rhyl: Jamie Reed converts excellent penalty - 2-2
Bangor: Sion Edwards' trusty left foot does the business - 3-2 City
Rhyl: Luke Holden is psyched out by Paul Smith. Pen saved - 3-2 City
Bangor: Immaculate Stuart Cook kick sends hosts through - 4-2 City
Bangor were through, their fans celebrated wildly and no-one could deny the team this moment of glory. Rhyl just didn't do enough.
TEAMS:
Bangor: Smith, Swanick, Beattie, Johnson, Hoy, Seargeant, Limbert, Walsh, Davies (Edwards 92), Sharp (Lloyd 80), Killackey (Cook 115).
Rhyl: M Jones, Stones (Reed 80), C Roberts, Horan, Strong, Connolly, G Owen (O'Neill 92), Holden, N Roberts, M Williams, C Jones (Johnson 70).

MATCH FACTS (120 minutes stats):
GOALS - Bangor 1 Rhyl 1
ATTEMPTS - Bangor 9 Rhyl 22
ON TARGET - Bangor 2 Rhyl 10
CORNERS - Bangor 8 Rhyl 9
YELLOW CARDS - Bangor 2 Rhyl 4
RED CARDS - Bangor 1 Rhyl 0
ATTENDANCE - N/a