Weekend football friendlies round-up

Reports from weekend friendlies involving North Wales clubs….

Nantlle Vale 0
Holyhead Hotspur 4

Callum Parry struck twice as Hotspur maintained their impressive pre-season form with a four-goal success at Maes Dulyn on Saturday.

Alex Jones’ header from a 29th minute corner handed the visitors a half-time lead.

Mel McGinness made it 2-0 five minutes into the second period with a great long-range effort.

Parry added a third with a close range finish and the ex-Llanrwst United striker completed his brace when he rounded the keeper and slotted home coolly,

Hotspur manager Darren Garmey said: “Today was frustrating for long parts as we looked disjointed, which is understandable as we were missing some very important players.

“However, we were much improved in the final third and restricted the opposition. We didn’t look like conceding all afternoon.”

Hotspur pre-season results

July 3: Nantlle Vale (a) 4-0 (Callum Parry 2, Alex Jones, Mel McGinness)
June 26: Llandudno Albion (h) 2-1 (Callum Parry, Liam Morris pen)
June 19: Penrhyndeudraeth (h) 3-0 (Rob Jones, Jay Gibbs, Callum Parry)
June 11: Bodedern Athletic (h) 3-1 (Jay Gibbs 2, Liam Morris)
June 5: Aberffraw (a) 3-2 (Jay Gibbs 2, Mel McGinness)

Holywell Town 2
Runcorn Town 4

Despite taking an early lead Holywell were eventually beaten by their North West Counties Football League Premier Division visitors, managed by former Rhyl FC star midfielder Paul McManus.

After just four minutes, the Wellmen’s Danny Andrews was brought down in the penalty area and a spot-kick was awarded. Andrews picked himself up and slotted home to put Johnny Haseldin’s men in front.

A few minutes later, the hosts nearly doubled their lead, Ilan ap Gareth firing in a shot that the keeper saved well with his legs.

With 25 minutes on the clock, Andrews dragged a shot wide, then Danny Sullivan saw his header from a corner get cleared off the line.

Runcorn turned on the pressure and it paid off on 41 minutes, Craig Cairns heading past Mike Platt from Aidan Roxburgh’s cross.

Then on the stroke of half time, the visitors took the lead through Ryan Cox’s header from a Kieran Holsgrove delivery.

Half-time: 1-2

The Cheshire side soon increased their lead a couple of minutes into the second half, Holsgrove firing into the top corner.

Holywell tried hard to cut the deficit, James Graham, Dylan Allshorn, Andrews and Mark Connolly all having efforts on goal.

However, with 15 minutes to play, Runcorn made it 4-1, Cox getting his second of the game.

A minute later, the Wellmen reduced the arrears through Luke Wiltshire.

The hosts applied late pressure, but there was no further reward.

Nantlle Vale Reserves 3
Llanrug United Reserves 2

Goals from Llion Griffiths, Jamie Jones and Gethin Jones secured Nantlle’s second team a narrow win on Friday night.

Llandudno Albion 3
Rhuddlan Town 1

Although Albion were off-colour in the first half, they played much better after the break to seal victory over a hard-working tier 4 Rhuddlan outfit.

Dan Roberts, Ricky Jones and Joel Lloyd were on the mark for the third-tier hosts.

Brickfield Rangers 2
Llanfair United 1

New signing Jardel Texiera scored for Brickfield in an excellent pre-season win over a strong Llanfair at Clywedog Park.

Texiera, who joins Gareth Wilson’s side from Coedpoeth United, looks like a great capture, Andy Vale also found the net for Rangers in a good performance.

Conwy Borough Reserves 0
Penmaenmawr Phoenix Reserves 2

Aaron Keating’s Penmaenmawr side continue to shape up nicely in pre-season.

The team will play in the North Wales Coast East/West Reserve League this term, with fixtures expected to start in early August.

Saturday’s win for Pen against their close neighbours saw Harry Lloyd break the deadlock with a 35th minute penalty.

In the 70th minute, Cam West doubled the lead when he scored from just inside the halfway line after a poor clearance from Conwy’s keeper.

Chirk AAA Reserves 5
Llangollen Town Reserves 2

Chirk completed their second pre-season friendly against neighbours Llangollen and came away with a 5-2 win

Leading the way was Harry Jones with a brace, while further goals came from Tom Faithfull, Jordan Owen and Phil Pearce.

Chirk Reserves will this season compete in the newly-formed FAW Reserve League North East featuring teams from Tier 1 to 3.