Catch-up: Cymru North – Jay strikes twice as Hotspur wreck Buckley’s perfect start

CYMRU NORTH REPORTS – SATURDAY, AUGUST 20

Holyhead Hotspur 2 Buckley Town 0

Hotspur caused a stir in the Cymru North after ending Buckley’s 100% record thanks to a Jay Gibbs double.

Gibbs struck twice in the second half, once from the penalty spot, to halt the visitors’ run of three straight wins and record a first league victory of the campaign for Daz Garmey’s men.

Winning manager Garmey said after the game: “It was a very satisfying performance from us as the game played out exactly how we had planned with the conditions playing a big part.”

In the first half, Buckley had a strong breeze with them, but Holyhead defended expertly with Alex Jones marshalling the back-line and dominating the visiting forwards both aerially and on the floor.

Bucks managed a single shot on goal which was easily saved by Alex Lynch.

The second half saw the home side pile the pressure on and they were awarded a penalty when Aron Hughes-Jones was brought down in the box. Gibbs stepped up and made no mistake on 57 minutes.

Further efforts on goal came from Kenleigh Owen and the impressive Myles Jones with the away side now camped deep in their own half.

Then another moment of magic came from Gibbs after 75 minutes when he found himself in space and his left-footed volley sailed into the top corner leaving the goalkeeper no chance at all.

Hotspur: Alex Lynch, Harry Lewis, Adam Pritchard, Luke Roberts, Alex Jones, Jack Walsh, Myles Jones (Deian Parry 90), Dean Garmey, Kenleigh Owen (Dylan Summers-Jones 85), Jay Gibbs, Aron Hughes-Jones.

Colwyn Bay 2 Porthmadog 0

A cracking crowd of 698 witnessed two second-half goals from Alex Downes deliver the Bay three well-deserved points.

Bay dominated much of the first half against Porthmadog but could not convert their chances, although Matty Hill had a goal ruled out for offside.

Porthmadog keeper Morgan Jones produced fine stops to deny James Kirby twice and keep out Tom McCready’s long range free kick.

Alex Boss, with a curling shot over the bar, and Meilir Williams went closest for the visitors.

Jones continued to deny the Seagulls after the break until on 66 minutes when Downes took a return pass from Hill to steer the ball into the bottom corner.

After 82 minutes Downes got his second with a back post header from McCready’s corner.

Holywell Town 3 Conwy Borough 1

The Wellmen picked up their first league win of the season at the expense of Conwy Borough at the Achieve More Training Stadium.

The opening goal came with 22 minutes on the clock. Damian Ketley crossed to the far post and Dave Forbes’ header flew into the top corner.

James Cairns was denied a second when a good stop from Rory Crowther foiled him before the break.

Nine minutes into the second half, it was 2-0.

Morgan Murray took possession close to halfway, ran forward, skipping past a couple of challenges before feeding Ketley, whose shot smashed against the post.

Murray latched on to the rebound, controlled and fired the ball into the bottom corner.

Ketley grabbed Town’s third after 68 minutes, receiving the ball on the edge of the box and drilling home for 3-0.

Almost instantly, the visitors pulled one back, Leigh Craven’s corner evading everyone and creeping in at the far post.

Both sides had late chances, but it ended 3-1.

Mold Alexandra 3 Penrhyncoch 1

A pair of late goals sealed a home success for Mold Alex.

The hosts struck first on eight minutes when a neat passage of play saw a lovely pass fed in to Sion McHugh, who applied a neat finish.

Penrhyncoch’s equaliser on 13 minutes was an absolute beauty.

Following a throw-in on the left, Liam Lewis turned and blasted a magnificent dipping shot over keeper Elliot Quinlan and into the net.

This end-to-end encounter looked to be heading for a draw until on 86 minutes Danny Warren drove home for Mold from a free kick just outside the box.

And five minutes into added time, Rhys Nash set up Dom Doherty to make it 3-1.

Prestatyn Town 2 Llanidloes Town 2

Tom Hilditch’s double twice put Prestatyn ahead at Bastion Gardens, but visitors Llanidloes took a point thanks to goals from Jamie Breeze and Connor Bird.

All the goals came in the first half.