Tremendous character from Sports as they bounced back from Saturday’s 4-1 home Welsh Cup defeat to Hawarden Rangers by beating local rivals Meliden 2-1 at The Meadows three days later to stretch their 100% league record to four straight wins.
Derby day did not disappoint – a full-blooded encounter with plenty of big tackles and great football on show by both teams.
Sports settled into a passing game very quickly.
The first goal on 13 minutes came from a mistake by the away keeper Morgan Parker. A cross from the right was spilled as Lee Beattie went up for a header and the ball dropped perfectly into the path of midfielder Antonio Jacovelli, who fired into the right hand corner.
Seven minutes later, a ball whipped in from the right found striker Beattie, who headed home from close range.
The hosts led 2-0 at half time, but they knew Meliden would come out strongly after the break.
And the Miners put their opponents under a tremendous amount of pressure.
Meliden changed their formation and it really worked for them. They pressed constantly, but credit to the Sports defenders, they stood firm until the 75th minute.
Then from a corner, a thunderous header from substitute Ashley Lally that hit both posts went in.
Meliden pushed relentlessly for the equaliser, but Sports heroically held on for the points.
Sports managers John Hargreaves and Sion Williams said: “We stood firm and got the all-important 3 points from a brilliantly contested derby.
“Credit both teams for an amazing game of football, both sets of fans for brilliant behaviour and support.
“Great to see such a big crowd at The Meadows for a local football match. Hope it’s the same at The Mine in our away fixture.”
Danny Mills, James Weaver, Joel Poh, Danny Grindlay, Sam Brewerton (Gareth Walsh 66), Antonio Jacovelli, Paul Brady, Lee Beattie (Kris Owen 64), Mike Jones, Tom Wickerson (Adam Wright 83), Alex Hall.
Morgan Parker, Joe Roberts, Luke Astley, Niall Butler (Tom Fletcher 83), Reece Chamberlain, Jon Terry, Nathaniel Hulme, Finlay Ellam (Lewis Thompson 83), Lucas Edwards (N/A 65), Matty Griffiths (Ashley Lally 65), Connor Beattie (Macauley Ross 65).
Saints held on to top spot and retained their unbeaten record with a hard-fought success at Y Morfa Leisure Centre ground.
Harrison Roberts (2), Ellis Blench and Tyler Joyce provided the away goals, Ryan Roberts and Anthony Colquitt replying for the hosts, who trailed 2-0 at half time.
Nico Clwyd notched a hat-trick for a Llannefydd side which brought their derby rivals back down to earth after their superb Welsh Cup win on Saturday.
Llansannan were on cloud nine after a 3-1 triumph at Brickfield Rangers in the national knockout, while on the same day, Gwyndaf Pritchard’s Llannefydd heartbreakingly went out on penalties to higher league Flint Mountain after holding a 2-0 lead.
However, when league points were at stake on Tuesday, it was the home team who took command, making it three straight victories so far.
Clwyd’s treble was supported by single goals from Morgan Jones and Ciran Jones.
The first three goals of the game were all netted by Clwyd, two within as many minutes in the opening half and then the third early in the second period.
Llansannan had Tomos Hughes red carded midway through the second half.
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