Flashback – five years ago: Littler treble helps Wellmen to emphatic win

Holywell Town 5 (McGilloway 3, Littler 20, 41 & 70, Jones 50)
Conwy Borough 2 (Robinson 10, Alvarado 29)
Cymru Alliance – December 19, 2015

Connor Littler was a hat-trick hero as Holywell romped to a convincing victory over Conwy at Halkyn Road this weekend five years ago.

The game started brilliantly for the Wellmen with young Brady McGilloway scoring his first goal for the club, slotting past Louie Mackin after being put through.

The celebrations were short-lived as on 10 minutes, Conwy equalised through Luke Robinson.

This goal gave the visitors the confidence to look for another and they put pressure on the Town back-line, but the hosts coped well and, after riding the storm, the Wellmen then took the lead again.

A great ball up to Phil Lloyd saw him run into the box and cross into the centre. Littler was there to head goalwards but the keeper pulled off a great save which saw the ball fall to Tony Roebuck. His shot was thwarted too, but the ball came to Littler, who tapped home.

Yet again, Conwy responded as Andreas Alvarado equalised on 29 minutes, shooting into the net via a ricochet off keeper Mike Platt’s leg.

With a couple of minutes left of the first half, Holywell edged back in front. Picking the ball up, Littler unleashed a great shot from fully 30 yards which flew into the top corner with Mackin well beaten.

Half-time: 3-2

The second half started with Town putting pressure on Conwy’s goal, and Littler rose well to head a Steve Thomas corner but his goalbound effort was blocked on the line by a defender.

A few minutes later, however, Johnny Haseldin’s side increased their lead.

The Wellmen won a corner and the ball was played in towards the far post where Tom McElmeel headed back across goal and Jonathon Jones was there to nod home via a Conwy defender.

Lloyd then broke through and his cross was only inches away from Littler before Conwy’s Andrew Brown’s free kick flew over Platt’s crossbar.

With 70 minutes on the clock, Littler grabbed his third goal of the afternoon. Running and seeing the keeper off his line, he lobbed the glovesman from over 25 yards to claim his first hat-trick for the club.

Substitute Graeme Williams was tripped in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped Tom McElmeel but he watched in horror as his kick flew over Mackin’s bar.

Massive thanks to Holywell Town secretary Steve Roberts for his help with all past reports