Ardal North West – Felinheli keeper scores from own half, Llay Welfare move top, 1876 hit five

ARDAL NORTH WEST REPORTS – SEPTEMBER 23-24

Bangor 1876 5 Flint Mountain 0

Report: Jonathan Ervine

Corrig McGonigle boosted his goals tally for the season to 20 from eight games with a double as 1876 maintained their unbeaten league record with an impressive caning of Flint Mountain.

McGonigle has actually netted 24 times this term, but four were against the now disbanded Rhydymwyn, so all stats from 1876’s 8-1 demolition of the Flintshire side in August will be chalked off.

The 25-year-old from Llansadwrn, near Menai Bridge, has scored in every game he has played this term and is on 54 goals from just 22 matches since joining the fan-owned club last season.

Saturday’s match saw 1876 threaten early on several occasions. Liam Morris hit a low shot from the edge of the area that was saved by Jamie King.

McGonigle then fired a shot which curled just wide of the post.

In the 13th minute, McGonigle broke the deadlock when indecision between the Flint goalkeeper and defence allowed him to roll the ball into the net from a tight angle.

Halfway through the opening period, Bangor came close to doubling their advantage when Morris cut the ball back to Jamie Petrie, but his strike was thwarted by King.

Five minutes before the break the visitors were reduced to 10 men when captain Richie Foulkes was sent off for violent conduct.

Deep in first half injury time, Bangor added a second when Les Davies headed home a Morris corner.

King denied McGonigle from point blank range early in the second period, but it was not long before a third goal arrived on 50 minutes.

McGonigle showed some neat footwork on the left of the area and set up Petrie to net from close in.

After something of a lull, a fourth Bangor goal arrived with 11 minutes left when McGonigle put away his second after being played through by Petrie.

With three minutes remaining, after good work by Gethin Thomas on the left, the ball broke to Harry Galeotti on the edge of the area. The second half substitute struck a powerful half-volley that went in off the post.

Hawarden Rangers 5 Rhostyllen 5

Rhostyllen must have thought they had their first league win in the bag when Lee McBurney put them 5-4 up a minute into injury time at Gladstone Playing Fields.

However, Hawarden saved their blushes with a 92nd minute equaliser from Louis Anglesea in this 10-goal stormer.

Bottom side Rhostyllen, who hit the basement as a result of Rhydymwyn’s resignation from the league, got off to a flyer.

McBurney, Jac Lloyd and Taylor Williams all scored to give them a 3-0 lead inside the first half-hour.

Stung into action, Rangers pulled themselves level before the break thanks to Ellis Jones (2) and Aaron North.

When Paul Lindfield netted in the 64th minute, it meant Hawarden had battled back from three-down to be 4-3 up.

Rhostyllen were far from finished, Taylor Williams making it 4-4 on 72 minutes, then came McBurney’s net-finder on 91 – but Anglesea had the last word.

Y Felinheli 3 Llandudno Albion 2

Should we now call him Guto Net Brân ? 🥅

Keeper Guto Hughes’ stunning goal for Y Felinheli from his own half was the main talking point from this game.

A close contest at Cae Seilo saw Osian Pritchard’s 18th minute strike separating the sides at half time.

Three minutes after the resumption, Albion’s all-time top marksman Dave Maddock made it one-apiece.

The goal which restored Felinheli’s lead on 79 minutes had to be seen to be believed.

Keeper Hughes let fly from his own half and the effort carried enough to clear opposite number Liam Jones and hit the back of the net.

Iwan Owen made it 3-1 on 87 minutes and a reply deep into injury time from Albion’s Dean Seager came too late to change the result.

Guto Nyth Brân

Griffith Morgan (1700-1737), better known as Guto Nyth Brân, was an athlete who hailed from Llwyncelyn, Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales.

Many of Guto’s running feats have since become merged with legend, and were disseminated by poets and authors such as I. D. Hooson, who wrote the ballad Guto Nyth Brân.

Llangefni Town 2 Nantlle Vale 3

As they had beaten league departees Rhydymwyn twice already this season – 3-2 on each occasion – Nantlle Vale suffered the pre-match blow of losing six points and the leadership of the table.

However, the Penygroes team refused to be downhearted and bounced back with a brilliant victory at Llangefni on Friday night.

Jack Smith’s goal gave Cefni a half-time lead, but Jamie Jones made it all-square six minutes after the restart.

Guto Gwenallt put Vale ahead on 57, then Matthew Jones converted a penalty after 66 to bring the Anglesey hosts back to level terms.

It was left to Ashley Owen to deliver a 77th minute decider for an ecstatic visiting side.

Llay Welfare 3 Brickfield Rangers 0

Llay stormed to the top of the table on goal difference after seeing off overnight leaders Brickfield at The Ring.

Jack Edwards made it 1-0 after 13 minutes and an Elliot Hall own goal on 32 double Brickie’s woes.

When Owen Jones bagged a third for Welfare on 54, the result was sealed.

Brickfield’s misery was complete when substitute Jardel Junior Lima Teixiera was red-carded on 87 minutes.

Saltney Town 6 Bodedern Athletic 2

Sam Edwards notched a hat-trick as Saltney sent Bodedern crashing to a fourth straight league defeat.

Sam Henry added a pair for the Bordermen, while Hayden Hughes was also on target.

With returning veteran goalkeeper Gareth OJ Roberts having a busy afternoon for the islanders, Athletic did manage to score two themselves through Shaun Jenkins and Jamie Roberts.