North Wales Coast East Division 1 – champions Abergele hit seven on opening day

North Wales Coast East Division One reports – August 6

Abergele 7 Penrhyn Bay Dragons 4

Division One champions Abergele began the defence of their title with a seven-goal salvo, but will be disappointed they let visitors Penrhyn Bay back into the game in the second half.

Gele led 7-1 at the interval and looked set for double figures, but conceded three without reply after the break.

The hosts started where they left off last season, racing to a 2-0 lead thanks to a Tony Zoezee brace.

The goals kept coming with Frankie Hennigan and Connah Atkinson each adding two along with Zoezee completing a first half hat-trick.

Stan Farrell replied late in the half to make it 7-1 at the changeover.

The only real negative of the first 45 for the champions was Ben Knight picking up a hamstring injury and being forced off and replaced by debutant Kev Gorry.

Gele started the second half slowly and allowed their opponents back into the contest. The hosts made changes but this did not improve things.

Solomon Dickens (70 minutes), Andrew Butterworth (77) and Billy Machin (83) all found the net for Penrhyn, but the overall outcome was never in doubt.

Betws y Coed 2 Bow FC 2

All-square at Cae Llwyn where newcomers Bow began life as a North Wales Coast East League club with a draw.

The Rhyl-based visitors felt they were somewhat unlucky not to take maximum points.

The atmosphere in Betws was superb with the sunshine bringing out a large crowd who witnessed a cracking game.

Bow were on the front foot from the word go, but were unable to take one of their many chances until the 32nd minute when big John Atherton scored with a back post header.

The away team then switched off and two goals in a minute from Luke Snape and Connor Court put the hosts 2-1 up at the break.

However, it was not long into the second half that Atherton stepped up again to score a peach which made it two-apiece.

Both teams had opportunities to kill the game off, but honours ended even.

Henllan 1 Rhos United 4

Despite falling behind to an early Alex Thomas goal, Rhos came back hard to win in convincing fashion.

Chris King levelled on 14 minutes and the returning Lewis Sealey put the red and blacks ahead after 22.

Tom Skelley made it 3-1 in the 32nd minute and Scott Court rounded things off with a fourth near the final whistle.

Rhyl All Stars 2 Llysfaen 1

All Stars battled through the pain barrier to begin the campaign with a hard-earned victory.

The hosts suffered a 13th minute blow when Owen Butters ended up with a broken nose after taking a high boot to the face.

On came Will Smith, who ended the deadlock in the 22nd minute with an amazing half-volley from the edge of the box into the top-right corner.

In the 36th minute Llysfaen equalised through forward Jake Reynolds, after a cross into the box.

Half-time: 1-1

All Stars started the second half much stronger, but Llysfaen were creating chances of their own and came up against some solid goalkeeping and defending.

In the 65th minute the hosts made a substitution and changed formation. Ultimately this swung things in favour of Robert Cunnah’s side, who began to create more chances.

On 77 minutes the greens retook the lead after a blocked shot fell to the feet of Frankie Davies, who slotted into the bottom left corner.

Two minutes later Llysfaen’s Reynolds was shown a red card for violent conduct.

Now with the visitors down a man, All Stars applied the pressure to kill the game off and won a penalty in the 87th minute.

Davies took it, but Llysfaen keeper Ben Williams saved superbly. Nonetheless, the final score was 2-1 to the All Stars.

Y Glannau 3 Llandudno Amateurs 3

Six goals and a point apiece in what was a thrilling encounter at St Asaph.

Sol Pita got the ball rolling by putting the Amateurs ahead in the fourth minute.

Joe Jones made it 2-0 in the 22nd minute, putting the visitors in a strong position at the turnaround.

Y Glannau came out all guns blazing for the second half.

Aaron Dodwell cut the arrears on 46 minutes and Harrison Bellis equalised after 51 before putting the home team ahead in the 56th minute.

Three goals in 11 minutes had turned the game on its head.

But the Amateurs are a very capable side and they hit back through Joe Jones to level it on 80.