Flashback – six years ago: Llandudno FC win their first-ever Welsh Premier game

Llandudno 3 (Evans 20, Marc Williams 41, Hughes 59)
Aberystwyth Town 2 (Venables 13 & 72 pen)
Welsh Premier League – August 22, 2015

Six years ago yesterday Llandudno’s first-ever Welsh Premier League match ended in victory.

A crowd of 796 were at Maesdu Park for a momentous day in the Seasiders’ history as they defeated opponents which finished fourth in the WPL the previous season.

Chris Venables headed the visitors in front in the 13th minute, but Gareth Evans levelled on 20 and Marc Williams made it 2-1 to the hosts at half time.

Danny Hughes fired in a fabulous third for MBi Llandudno after 59 minutes before a Venables penalty on 72 set up a tense finish.

Aber defender Lee Surman headed against the bar late on, but the new boys held out for a great win.

The visitors went ahead after a Luke Sherbon thunderbolt was pushed behind by Dave Roberts for a corner which Ross Stephens took and Venables nodded home with ease.

It was from another Town corner that Tudno’s equaliser came.

Roberts caught a Craig Williams flag kick, quickly threw the ball out to Hughes and he passed to Alan Bull.

The former Bangor City striker found Evans in space and he applied a cool finish.

Both keepers excelled as Roberts got down brilliantly to palm a piledriver Williams free kick onto the post, then Aber stopper Mike Lewis pushed away a fierce Marc Williams volley.

Just before half time, Tudno skipper Tom Dix played a lovely one-two with Evans before finding ex-Wrexham striker Marc Williams, who turned Surman beautifully before drilling home from an angle.

Close to the hour, slick passing football down the right saw Michael Johnston and Marc Williams combine before Hughes guided a peach of a right-foot strike beyond a static Lewis for 3-1.

Aber replied when Stephens lifted a free kick into the area and referee Lee Evans decided Mike Williams had impeded Venables, who duly netted from the spot.

Venables then hit an outrageous effort from his own half which had Roberts desperately back-pedalling to tip over the bar.

Following the resultant corner, Roberts got nowhere near Stephens’ delivery into a crowded box and Surman looked to have a whole goal to aim at but headed onto the bar.

It was the last close call and Tudno celebrated a famous win.

Llandudno: Dave Roberts, Michael Johnston, James Joyce, Mike Williams, Jonny Spittle, Tom Dix, Gareth Evans, Danny Hughes, Lee Thomas (Danny Shaw 74), Marc Williams, Alan Bull (Lewis Buckley 85). Subs not used: Tim Burrow, Leo Riley, Connor Tierney.

Aberystwyth: Mike Lewis, Cledan Hughes, Sion James, Ross Stephens, Lee Surman, Stuart Jones, Luke Sherbon, Craig Williams (Jack Rimmer), Antonio Corbisiero, Darren Thomas, Chris Venables. Subs not used: Phil Draper, Liam Lewis, Thomas Jones, David Wyn Thomas.

MATCH STATS

Goals: Llandudno 3 Aberystwyth 2
Goal attempts: Llandudno 11 Aberystwyth 10
On target: Llandudno 4 Aberystwyth 8
Off target/blocked: Llandudno 7 Aberystwyth 2
Corners: Llandudno 5 Aberystwyth 3
Yellow cards: Llandudno 1 Aberystwyth 2
Red cards: Llandudno 0 Aberystwyth 0
Attendance: 796
Man of the match
Danny Hughes (Llandudno)