AN injury-time strike from Steven Hewitt sentenced Aberystwyth to a fifth successive defeat in the JD Welsh Premier League, as manager Neville Powell’s former club Bangor City snatched a 3-2 victory in a frantic finale at Park Avenue.

There was little sign of what was to come when the stalemate was broken just past the hour by Luke Borrelli, who hit a first time volley in his 100th Welsh Premier start, from Ryan Wollacott’s deep left-wing cross - for Aber’s first goal in over seven hours of league football.

The joy of the sparse home crowd lasted just two minutes, however, as the Citizens’ assistant boss Gary Taylor-Fletcher levelled matters with his first touch after coming on.

Tom Kennedy swept the ball to the right edge of the box, and the former Blackpool striker fired a well-taken drive between keeper Chris Mullock and his near post.

Danny Gossett and Brayden Shaw were both denied by Mullock, and Shaw also then charged at goal and saw his shot hit the post and booted clear by Declan Walker for a corner, as Bangor sensed victory.

At the other end, Joe Phillips forced a save from Connor Roberts, before Steven Hewitt blocked sub Matthew Jones’ effort, and Borrelli also went close for the Seasiders.

The visitors looked to have won it three minutes from the end when Luke Wall crossed from the left, and Brayden Shaw rose highest to head in off the back post.

Right on 90 minutes, however, Aber hit back when Borrelli controlled the ball on the right, managed to turn and crossed low for big sub Craig Hobson to bundle the ball over the line at the back post.

The fourth official indicated four added minutes, and there was one more cruel twist to come for Aber.

Bangor pushed forward for a winner and when Dean Rittenberg crossed in from the left, Woollacott headed clear to the edge of the box to Hewitt, who unleashed a superb volley beyond keeper Mullock for a goal worthy of the three points.

Before the late drama, it had been a closely contested opening half, with Joe Phillips chipping wide for Aber after 10 minutes, whilst Hewitt sliced wide for the Citizens.

Hewitt also tried his luck from distance, but again missed the target, whilst around the half hour Declan Walker and Ryan Wade both had shots at goal - and it took a brave block from Anthony Miley to deny frontrunner Borrelli.

Bangor’s Dan Nardiello dragged an effort wide from the left, but as half time beckoned an Aber freekick was played to Walker, whose low shot had Connor Roberts scrambling at the foot of his post.

An energetic start to the second half from the Seasiders saw Geoff Kellaway go close, and a corner was headed over by Johnny Spittle.

At the other end, referee Dean John deflected a clearance to Brayden Shaw, who tested Mullock from the edge of the box, but the real excitement was still to come.

ABER: C Mullock, D Walker, C Davies, J Spittle, R Wollacott, G Kellaway (J Owen 70), L Borrelli, R Wade (M Jones 70), A Young, J McKenna, J Phillips (C Hobson 87) . Subs not used: J Rimmer, H Horwood, L Jenkins, N Coleridge.

BANGOR CITY: C Roberts, D Holmes, T Kennedy, D Gosset, A Miley, A Cayola (L Wall 50), S Hewitt, B Shaw, D Nardiello (G Taylor-Fletcher 63), D Rittenberg, L Wilson (DAllen 87) . Subs not used: M Hall (gk), G Harry, C Owen, G Williams. Attendance: 270.

Read the full report and reaction in this week’s Aberystwyth edition