Friendly: Menai Tigers hit seven in all-island clash but Llanfairpwll battle well

Menai Bridge Tigers 7 (Rowlands 2, Redmond 2, Hogan, K Roberts, Davidson)
Llanfairpwll 1 (Own goal)

Monday night saw the Tigers play their first friendly since the firebreak lockdown when they welcomed neighbours Llanfairpwll.

The first goal arrived just 20 seconds in. Captain Tom Parry played a surging ball forward for Paul Rowlands to run onto.

An unfortunate slip by the Llanfair centre half left Rowlands through one on one with the keeper and the experienced attacker calmly slotted into the bottom corner to give Tigers an early lead.

The next 15 minutes saw both teams jostling for the ball and trying to get a foothold in the game.

Some brilliant play down the left saw Sion Hogan link with Rowlands, who dispatched his second goal of the game.

Shortly after it was energetic forward Dean Redmond’s turn to get in on the action as he created space in the box to finish into the bottom corner.

The fourth goal came from Sion Hogan, who danced into the box to score after neat combination play with Rowlands.

Huw Shaw in the Llanfair goal made some fine saves from Redmond, Callum Davidson and Craig Roberts before Kev Roberts made it five close to the break with a back post tap in.

Half-time: 5-0

The second half saw Llanfair come out in more solid shape looking to frustrate the Tigers. Credit to the young ‘Pwll side, they kept battling for every ball and never stopped working.

Around the 70-minute mark Redmond scored his second of the game with an astute finish in the box.

Not long after Davidson unleashed a venomous shot into the top corner from outside the box leaving the Llanfair glovesman no chance.

Just before the end Dion Williams was brought down in the box and up stepped Redmond who unfortunately blazed the penalty over the crossbar and into the Menai Straits.

Right at the death, under the pressure of the Llanfair forward Dion Lewis slipped and conceded an own goal.

Menai manager Aaron Rowlands said: “Credit to the Llanfair side they never stopped working and good luck to Vinnie, Spud and all the lads there for the season when we get started.”