Football

Eight unbeaten, 45 goals scored, then they sign one of North Wales’ most prolific marksmen – Bethesda Athletic are flying!

Bethesda (stripes) in action against Llangoed. Left is Tomos Hughes (aged 17) and right Cai Williams (19).

After an unexpected shaky start to the season Bethesda Athletic are now absolutely flying.

Unbeaten in eight games, seven of them wins and 45 goals scored with just 9 conceded – four in one match.

Mark Hughes’ side are fourth in tier 5 North Wales Coast West League Division One and just two points off the top.

And Pesda have just got even stronger with the signing of goal machine Scott Hughes from Glantraeth.

The prolific front man, who had scored seven times in eight outings this season for his former club, is well known for his past stunning net-finding feats for the likes of Arriva Bangor and Beaumaris Town.

Scott Hughes

Manager Mark Hughes is delighted to get Scott on board.

He said: “I’ve tried to sign Scott a couple of times over the years so to finally get him in is brilliant. He guarantees goals at this level and we’ve probably missed someone who’s first instinct is to put the ball in the net.

“Thus far we’ve shared the goals around and if we can add Scott’s goals on top of those then I’m sure we can achieve our ambitions for the season.”

Bethesda looked unstoppable in pre-season, recording nine straight wins and were tipped to hit the ground running when the campaign proper started.

The Hughes brothers are shining bright at Parc Meurig

Manager Hughes brought in the likes of veteran striker Mike Lundstram, talented brothers Osian and Noa Hughes, ex-Bangor 1876 man Dion Williams, Bradley Pickavance, Ally Issa and Dan Roberts – all good quality recruits.

Added to what he already had, things looked highly promising, but things took time to gel as Athletic lost their first league match at home to Waunfawr before back-to-back defeats against Llanfairpwll.

There were some encouraging signs, a 5-1 thumping of Cemaes Bay and a narrow 1-0 loss to tier 4 hotshots Penrhyndeudraeth in the FAW Amateur Trophy.

But with three league points out of a possible 12, it was not the start Mark Hughes wanted.

However, the tide turned with a 7-0 drubbing of Llangoed before Pesda’s showed their battling qualities to emerge 5-4 winners in a topsy-turvy affair at Bodorgan.

Since then, the only “blip” on the record, if you can call it that considering the calibre of the opposition, is a 1-1 draw at fellow high-riding Caergybi.

Otherwise it has been caning after caning of good sides, the latest a 5-0 success in the Junior Cup at the 2019-20 quarter-finalists Llysfaen.

Tomorrow sees Bethesda Athletic due to visit Holyhead Town, where they will again be expected to shine and boost that undefeated run to 10 games.

BETHESDA ATHLETIC RESULTS 2021-22 SEASON

Sep 18: Llysfaen (a – NWCFA Junior Cup) 5-0 (Mike Lundstram 3, Cameron Robertson, Tomos Hughes)
Sep 11: CPD Cefni (h) 6-0 (Adrian Roberts, Kyle Hartleb 2, Osian Hughes, Noa Hughes, Sion Bullock)
Sep 4: Talysarn Celts (a) 6-2 (Noa Hughes, Joe Todd 2, Tomos Hughes 2, Kyle Hartleb)
Aug 27: Bontnewydd (a) 6-2 (Noa Hughes 2, Joe Todd 2, Tomos Hughes, Kyle Hartleb)
Aug 24: Caergybi (a) 1-1 (Noa Hughes)
Aug 20: Bethesda Rovers (h) 9-0 (Adrian Roberts 3, Cameron Robertson 2, Kyle Hartleb, Tomos Hughes 2, Mike Lundstram)
Aug 15: Bodorgan (a) 5-4 (Joe Todd 3, Tomos Hughes 2)

Aug 7: Llangoed and District (h) 7-0 (Ally Issa, Adrian Roberts, Cameron Robertson, Joe Todd, Osian Hughes, Kyle Hartleb, Kyle Davies)

July 31: Llanfairpwll (h) 1-2 (Tomos Hughes)
July 22: Cemaes Bay (h) 5-1 (Kyle Hartleb 2, Sion Bullock, Tomos Hughes, Ally Issa)
July 17: Penrhyndeudraeth (a – FAW Amateur Trophy) 0-1
July 15: Llanfairpwll (a) 2-3 (Mike Lundstram, Kyle Hartleb)
July 3: Waunfawr (h – league) 1-3 (Mike Lundstram)

League: Played 11 Won 7 Drawn 1 Lost 3 Goals for 49 Goals Against 18

GOALSCORERS (54 GOALS ALL COMPETITIONS)

10 – Tomos Hughes
9 – Kyle Hartleb
8 – Joe Todd
6 – Mike Lundstram
5 – Adrian Roberts
5 – Noa Hughes
4 – Cameron Robertson
2 – Sion Bullock
2 – Ally Issa
2 – Osian Hughes
1 – Kyle Davies

davejones

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