BANGOR City made it two consecutive Huws Gray Alliance defeats with a 2-1 reverse at Holywell Town.

The young Citizens’ failed to hold on to a lead against a Wellmen side who are fighting for their lives at the foot of the table, and the result enabled Rhyl to once again climb above them in the standings following their win over Denbigh Town.

Gary Taylor-Fletcher’s men will look to bounce back with two home fixtures this week against Penrhyncoch on Tuesday and Flint Town United on Saturday.

Despite the eventual result it was the visitors who began the game with more authority, and they were unfortunate not to go ahead early on when Robbie Parry’s goalbound effort was hacked off the line by Tom Roebuck.

Former Rhyl standout Aaron Pomeyie was proving to be a thorn in the visitors’ rearguard and he forced a smart save out of Nathan Woolland, with Damian Ketley also firing wide after another concerted period of pressure.

Johnny Haseldin’s side were presented with a golden chance to open the scoring on 32 minutes when they were awarded a penalty, but Woolland superbly diverted Sam Jones’ spot kick and the chance was gone.

After the break saw the Citizens’ awarded a penalty of their own on 48 minutes, and Parry held his nerve to fire powerfully into the net and break the deadlock moments following another sensational Woolland stop to deny Ketley.

This was met by a fierce response from the home side, who got back on level terms with 56 on the clock when a cross-come-shot from Mark Winslade evaded everyone and sailed over Woolland into the net.

With the momentum now with the hosts, they took full advantage at a crucial stage in the game to get their noses in front courtesy of a low drive from Ketley on 76 minutes.

City threw everything forward in the closing stages in the pursuit of a leveller, but Town remained resolute to pick up a pivotal three points and condemn the away side to defeat.