Rhyl All Stars and Bow share eight-goal thriller

Barry Roche (No 8) scores for Bow. Picture: MATT JOHNSON

NORTH WALES COAST EAST LEAGUE DIVISION ONE – AUGUST 17

Rhyl All Stars 4 Bow 4

Eight goals, four apiece, and missed penalties by both sides – there was no shortage of excitement in this fiercely contested town derby.

After early pressure from the All Stars, league newcomers Bow broke away, leading to the award of a penalty.

Unfortunately for the visitors, Jack Gibbon’s 11th minute effort hit the post and the ball ricocheted out of play.

Nonetheless, Bow did strike first when Kelvin Berks, who linked well up front with Danny Williams, took his chance well in the 16th minute.

All Stars were then awarded a penalty for a foul by keeper Richard Hillier-Evans on Shaun Davies.

This All-Stars penalty was saved, but the rebound was converted. Picture: MATT JOHNSON

Frankie Davies’ spot-kick was saved by Hillier-Evans, but Will Smith was following up to convert the rebound and make it 1-1 after 20 minutes.

Two minutes later, Bow were awarded a free kick which Barry Roche curled into the bottom corner for 2-1.

The hosts upped their game and began to create more going forward.

Some excellent high pressing led to All Stars winning the ball in the 36th minute, Owen Butters feeding Frankie Davies, who very calmly slotted into the bottom-left corner to equalise.

Just before the interval, Bow edged ahead for a third time when Aaron Green delivered the ball to the back post and the hard-working Roche was there to finish.

Half-time: All Stars 2 Bow 3

All Stars started the second half well, putting up plenty of fight in the midfield to win the ball and apply pressure on the Bow defence.

Bow were also making good use of their wide men, creating chances down both wings.

However, both teams were also defending well, cutting out balls in behind and down the flanks.

The equaliser arrived in the 72nd minute, Butters hitting a sensational first time strike into the bottom corner.

Bow responded quickly with a good passage of play down the left. The ball was played through to substitute Alfie Harrison, who attempted to put a powerful cross into the box from the byline and his effort found its way into the top corner to amazingly give Bow the lead for a fourth time.

All Stars refused to fold and in the 85th minute won a corner.

Danny Williams of Bow (17) challenges All Stars skipper Mathew Parry. Picture: MATT JOHNSON

A good delivery by Frankie Davies was not cleared well, Mathew Parry managed to flick the ball to the feet of Robert Brown on the edge of the 18 yard box, and he rifled into the top-left corner for 4-4.

Both teams pushed for the winner, which never came.

All Stars manager Robert Cunnah said after the game: “A really strong performance tonight from the lads. I must give them credit tonight, after a poor performance on Saturday, they have really bounced back.

“We changed our formation, after feeling the change was necessary to take us forward. We hadn’t had much time to work on the new formation, but the lads reacted very well to the change.

“This is by far the best performance I’ve seen from this new side, they played some lovely passing football tonight and battled hard throughout the game.

“They showed real heart and desire to get the result and only just came up short. It takes a lot of character to come back from a goal down on four occasions.

“I do feel we were unfortunate not to have taken all 3 points tonight. Many positives to take into our next game on the weekend against Penrhyn Bay.”

Bow’s two-goal star and captain Barry Roche said: “Tough one to take, leading four times and not getting the win.

“With us being a new team to the league this year and attracting players, we rotated the squad massively today which in all honesty didn’t go our way.

“All credit to Rhyl All Stars, they played as a team today and fought for one another.”

TEAMS

Bow

Richard Hiller-Evans
Jack Gibbon
James Harrison
Aaron Green
Barry Roche (C)
Kelvin Berks (John Atherton 45)
Danny Porter
Cale Kemp (Dean Davies 75)
Dion Jones (Alfie Harrison 60)
Danny Williams (Harry Thomas 45)
Steven Flanagan (Jordan Ross 75)