Six of the Best: Top weekend performances in North Wales football

Prestatyn Sports 2 Holyhead Hotspur 9 (Welsh Alliance Division One)

Having just come down from the Cymru Alliance, perhaps Hotspur were expected to win at Sports, but not in their wildest dreams did they surely envisage a 9-2 scoreline against a solid Welsh Alliance outfit.

Chris Jones showed what he is more than capable of with a rapid hat-trick. Don’t forget this is a man who once grabbed a last-minute winner for Bangor City in a Europa League tie. Jones is expected to be more regularly available this season and that can only be good news for the Holy Islanders.

New signings (both returnees) Robert Jones and Dewi Thomas could hardly have done better with two goals apiece.

Hotspur manager Darren Garmey said after the game his team has set a high standard which he now expects them to maintain.

“I’m really happy with the win, especially as we went there without a goalkeeper due to Carl (Jones) being suspended and Dan (Williams) picking up a knock midweek,” commented Garmey.
“The performance on the whole was ruthless, and I think it has laid down a marker for us to follow now week in, week out. Some very good performances from the forwards, but Harri Lewis was immense. He covered every blade of grass out there today, his passing was near perfect and he has taken a good few kicks in the process.  On to Mynydd Llandegai on Tuesday and myself, Chedz (Mike Kelly) and Nick (Dumbarton) will be looking for more of the same.”

Flint Town United 5 Porthmadog 1 (Nathaniel MG Cup)

Considering these two sides finished second and third respectively in the Cymru Alliance last season, this was a really superb result for Flint.

And the Silkmen were more than worthy of the scoreline as they played to their strengths, Alex Titchiner (2), Nathan Brown, Andy Brown and Mark Cadwallader sharing the goals.

Flint manager Niall McGuinness will be hoping this is the shape of things to come, while new Port manager Sion Eifion Jones will want to forget this game quickly and move forward with his plans for the 2019-20 season. Port have a good squad and they will bounce back.

Cefn Druids 1 Prestatyn Town 2 (Nathaniel MG Cup)

A tremendous achievement for Prestatyn, but was it truly an upset?

This may have been Cymru North beating Cymru Premier, but such is the quality of squad Neil Gibson has put together at Bastion Gardens over the summer, are they that much behind Druids in terms of standard?

Probably not, but neither are Cefn a weak Cymru Premier side, they were top six and in Europe not so long ago and have a very decent pool of talent.

So this still ranks as a fantastic scoreline away from home by the Seasiders, with Ian Griffiths and Rob Hughes on the mark.

Gaerwen 6 Y Felinheli 0 (Welsh Alliance Division Two)

Any follower of the Welsh Alliance assessing this one before kick-off may well have had it down as a draw.

Felinheli have been one of the stronger sides in the division in recent times, while Gaerwen have occasionally lacked consistency.

The Anglesey club have brought in some very good players in pre-season, though, and adding Sean Brett to the management set-up, with his reputation for developing young talent, will do them no harm at all.

I never saw this as a 6-0 game, but Gaerwen really made a statement, new signing from Pentraeth Iwan Williams (2), Darren Lewthwaite, Connor Gordon, Tim Cavanagh and Lee Jones combining for the half-dozen.

Sychdyn 6 Acton 4 (North East Wales League)

Back in football after a two-year break, one would have forgiven Sychdyn for needing some time to settle. Not a bit of it!

Playing last season’s runners-up Acton in your first game appeared quite a test, and no doubt it was, but the Flintshire villagers banged in six goals and took the points.

Terry Pughe (3), Al Roberts, Ryan Williams and Mark Weir (pen) made up the home six, Niall Challinor (3) and Ashley Edwards for the visitors.

Later that same evening, Challinor signed for Welsh National League champions FC Queen’s Park. Acton will miss him.
Great start Sychdyn!

Bro Goronwy 5 Llanystumdwy 0 (Gwynedd League)

Having lost so many players in the summer to other clubs, Bro have been left with a largely promising, but raw young squad.

A season of adjustment and consolidation was the forecast coming from Cae Nerys, but they certainly won’t be complaining after kicking off with a 5-0 drubbing of experienced Gwynedd League outfit Llanystumdwy.

Jac Thomas, one of those of whom good things are expected, pocketed a hat-trick and while one swallow does not make a summer, Goronwy have something great to build on with this result.