AN early goal from Jamie Reed - his 24th of the campaign - kept alive Bangor's hopes of qualifying for Europe through league position.

Peter Hoy's long throw was flicked-on by Lee Hunt for Reed to head past home keeper Terry McCormick in the second minute.

The defeat ended Connah's Quay's chances of avoiding relegation and they compounded their own misfortune with the 60th-minute dismissal of midfielder Jamie Petrie for a second yellow card.

Both sides struggled on a difficult surface with Nicky Ward firing just wide from an Eddie Jebb cross.

Hunt should have extended City's lead on 70 minutes, but fired over the bar when he was clean through before Nomads' Sam McNutt clattered the crossbar from a free-kick.

The visitors finished the stronger and almost doubled their tally when Hunt set-up substitute Les Davies, but he also blasted against the bar.

City were denied a penalty when Reed was pulled down inside the area, but the officials awarded a free-kick outside the box, and the decision almost proved costly when defender James Brewerton headed off the line with keeper Paul Smith stranded.

Report and stats courtesy of welsh-premier.com