BALA Town failed to find the net in open play for the third time in as many matches as rivals Bangor City earned the bragging rights in the first Gwynedd derby of the season, with a 2-0 success at Nantporth last weekend.

Goals by Damien Allen and Dan Nardiello in the first quarter proved enough for Bangor to take the points in the live televised match, as Colin Caton’s side slipped to a first defeat of the campaign.

“It was disappointing,” admitted Bala Town coach Steve O’Shaughnessy.“Our preparation was good this week, I thought it was a good result and three points last week against Cardiff Met, and I thought we’d carry that on.

“But it was one of those things, the lads didn’t turn up, and we were just not good enough, either individually or as a team.

“There was not a lot in it, just their goals, and that was that at the end of the day.

“At times were passed it well, but there was no end product, and the players have got to start working harder off the ball.

“It’s still early days, we are only three games in, and this was our first defeat, but we know we are going to get better and hopefully it will come together for us."If we can reach the standards that we set ourselves, then we should be okay.

“We have got players who are coming back into the team, and the players have really got to start fighting for places.”

It took 10 minutes for the Citizens to open the scoring when Brayden Shaw squared the ball for Allen, who hit a sweet strike into the bottom corner of the net.

Bala keeper Alex Lynch had earlier been called upon to make a spectacular one-handed save to keep out a pile-driver from Gary Roberts, but at the other end Conall Murtagh’s strike from 25 yards dipped over the bar, and a Ryan Valentine cross was gathered by keeper Dave Roberts.

On 21 minutes, however, Nardiello beat defender Stuart Jones to a long clearance from keeper Connor Roberts before firing the Citizens into a comfortable 2-0 lead.

Dominant Bangor came close to netting a third minutes later as Gary Roberts saw his free kick deflected onto the woodwork by Lynch, whilst the closest Bala came to an equaliser before the break was when Mark Connolly saw his effort blocked.

The home side had the better clear-cut chances after the interval, but Lynch was solid and alert throughout, stopping a Shaw chance early in the second period.

Bala sub Mike Hayes did go close with a header, and then fired wide from inside the penalty box, but City were rarely troubled as they held firm to the victory.

BANGOR CITY: C Roberts, B Shaw, J Davies, L Clowes, A Miley, G Roberts, J Reed, D Allen (D Gossett 46), D Nardiello (S Cavanagh 74), H Jones, A Youn. Subs not used: A Sarnowski (gk), C Owen, O Durnin, J Kpohomouh.

BALA TOWN: A Lynch, R Valentine, A Stephens, S J Jones, L Owens, C Murtagh, M Connolly (M Hayes 54), R Edwards (R Wade 46), N Burke, C Venables, I Sheridan (M Jones 74). Subs not used: A Morris (gk), J Crowther.

Attendance: 375. Referee: Nick Pratt.