CATCH-UP: North Wales Coast East League – title challengers in Premier stunned, 100 goals for Llandudno Amateurs

NORTH WALES COAST EAST LEAGUE

Premier Division latest table April 24

MATCH OF THE DAY – SATURDAY, APRIL 20

Kinmel Bay 3 (Cawley 20, Owen 57, Walker 90+2)
CPD Cerrigydrudion 2 (Vaughan-Evans 33, Griffiths 52)

What a way for Kinmel Bay to end their Premier Division campaign – victory over one of the league’s strongest sides and a 92nd minute winner!

Leon Field, Andy Thomas and Alex Craig’s side inflicted a first league defeat on title hopefuls Cerrig in 13 games and gave themselves a massive boost ahead of this Saturday’s Cookson Cup Final clash with Llandudno Junction.

For Cerrigydrudion, the result was a big blow to their league title hopes, however it was not as bad as it could have been with leaders NFA also losing and being leapfrogged by Junction into top spot.

Bay managers Field, Thomas and Craig set out their goals at the start of the season and say they have fallen just short of what was predicted.

However, a cup final win this weekend will leave the club in a great position going into next season.

Last Saturday’s game was always going to be hard for the Bay starting with a minute’s silence for goalkeeper Ash Lavender’s uncle.

They were also missing a number of regular players for various reasons

Kinmel started with a mix of first team and reserve players, but the lads who stepped up did not disappoint one bit.

The hosts got off to a quick start and took the lead in the 20th minute via a quick goal kick from Lavender, which bounced over the Cerrig back-line and Ben Cawley was there to slot home

Cerrig replied with 33 minutes gone. A free kick towards the corner flag was whipped in by Tomos Jones and Alun Vaughan-Evans reacted quickest to bundle the ball into the goal.

Half time 1-1 and a pretty even game up to then.

Bay defended well at the start of the second half, but unfortunately for them Cerrig took the lead with 52 minutes gone when the ball was played down the right to Tirion Griffiths, who cut inside and fired into the far bottom corner.

The home side responded by digging deep and it paid off in the 57th minute via a throw which was flicked on by Cawley to Cory Owen, unmarked 25 yards out, who struck the ball on the half volley and it sailed through the crowded box into the bottom corner.

Both sides now went for it, tempers were frayed at times and each set of defenders were tested but coped well.

Play was into the 92nd minute when substitute Harry Woodfine’s flicked header fell to Tate Walker who connected beautifully with the outside of his right foot past the oncoming keeper for 3-2.

Cerrig had a great chance to make it 3-3 but the outstanding Chris Evans was there again to stop the attack for Bay.

This Saturday, Kinmel Bay take on Llandudno Junction in the Cookson Cup Final at Central Park, Denbigh Town, kick-off 2 pm.

Bay are asking for as many fans as possible to attend and be their 12th man so they can thank everyone for their amazing support all season.

Wednesday, April 24

Premier Division

Llanfairfechan Town 2 Abergele 1

Osian Roberts and Elliot Croston delivered the first-half goals which secured victory for a Llanfairfechan side who edged themselves further clear of the bottom four on Wednesday.

Roberts netted on 28 and Croston after 38. One-from-bottom Abergele were unable to reply until the 90th minute through Dominic Holland.

Division One latest table April 24

Prestatyn Wanderers 0 Llandudno Amateurs 8

Mike Chapman netted four times to boost his season’s total to 22 for an Amateurs side which became the first in the East league to reach the 100-goals mark in 2023-24.

Still in with a chance of runners-up, the visitors’ other marksmen were Kyle Johnson, Joe Jones, Kyle King and Gez Thomas.

Saturday, April 20

Premier Division

CPD Bro Cernyw 0 Llandudno Junction 5

Junction roared into top spot with a five-goal away hammering of Bro Cernyw.

All the goals came in the first half, Jack Williams on target after 14 and 43 minutes, Matthew Jones converting a penalty and Nathan Williams and Dean Seager adding further net-busters.

CPD Llansannan 1 NFA 0

Having beaten Llansannan 4-0 seven days earlier, NFA were expected to complete a double but were in for a rude awakening as the villagers gained revenge.

Gruffudd Roberts netted the winning goal on 90 minutes, meaning NFA lost the leadership of the table to Llandudno Junction, 5-0 winners at Bro Cernyw.

However, Rhyl-based NFA are still in a strong position after fellow title hopefuls Cerrigydrudion lost 3-2 to a late decider at Kinmel Bay.

Meliden 3 Llanfairfechan Town 0

Luca Querci, Kai Wallis and Jack Harrison provided the crucial goals to secure Meliden three points at Bastion Gardens.

Division One

Llysfaen 1 Penrhyn Bay 4

Stan Farrell (2), Adam Roberts and Solomon Dickens shared the goals in an impressive away success for Penrhyn Bay.

Jake Reynolds provided Llysfaen’s reply.