North Wales Coast East – penalties rule in Dyrny win, Llannefydd and Phoenix victorious

NORTH WALES COAST EAST LEAGUE REPORTS – SEPTEMBER 24

PREMIER DIVISION

Llandyrnog United 3 Llanfairfechan Town 1

David Lawson-Cooke converted a hat-trick of penalties in a game which contained no less five spot-kicks – four of them successful.

Llanfairfechan came out looking strong and defiant at Cae Nant, despite suffering a huge 8-0 defeat at Llannefydd in the Intermediate Cup the previous week.

They pressed the hosts high, and won a penalty 25 minutes in after Rob Hurst played the ball from behind the man, giving the referee little choice.

Ryan Dodd stepped up for the visitors, but was superbly denied by stand-in goalkeeper Sion Morris, who tipped the effort onto the post, and followed up by saving the rebound.

Five minutes later, Llandyrnog were awarded a penalty for handball and Lawson-Cooke was the man to slot it home.

A mere five minutes had passed and Llanfairfechan received a second penalty! A free kick driven into the box was blocked by the arm of Cai Davies, and the ref had no hesitation.

The visitors changed takers, Elliot Croston stepped up and squeezed home the strike, despite Morris getting a good hand to it.

Half-time: 1-1

Seven minutes into the second half, Lawson-Cooke played in Conor Jones, who was brought down for Llandyrnog’s second penalty and the game’s fourth!

Lawson-Cooke placed his kick into the same side of the goal as his first, this time sending the keeper the wrong way.

The game seemed to drift by, little action taking place in what was quite a scrappy encounter where both sides showed desperation for the points.

This seemed to tone down the prospect of any flowing football.

With 80 minutes on the clock, Cai Davies burst into the box, exploiting space down the left flank as the game had completely opened up and the visitors threw all men forward for an equaliser. He went down under a challenge from Curtis Murray, and the ref gave penalty number five.

Lawson-Cooke netted again to complete a pens treble in a game which produced surely rarely seen stats in football worldwide.

Bro Cernyw 0 Llannefydd 7

Five straight league wins for Llannefydd, Andy Booker leading the way with a hat-trick at Bro Cernyw.

Booker’s treble came in the first half, Morgan Jones also on target before the break.

Elgan Roberts (2, 1 penalty) and Andy Roberts made it seven in the second half.

Bro had Russell Pursell dismissed for a second yellow two minutes from time.

Rhuddlan Town 1 Penmaenmawr Phoenix 3

New signing Ricky Jones struck twice on a memorable debut for Phoenix.

Jones, who switched over from Llandudno Albion in midweek, struck on 12 and 36 minutes, with Jamie Jones also on the mark with five gone.

Rhuddlan would have gone top with a point, but all they could manage was a consolation Harvey Bennett goal – also in the first half.

Town’s Ryan Gordon was sent off for two yellows in the second half.

Meliden 2 Blaenau Amateurs 2

A fine result for Blaenau against an in-form Meliden outfit.

Bryn Humphreys handed the Quarrymen a third-minute lead before Dylan Ford levelled on eight.

Joe Roberts made it 2-1 to Meliden in the 33rd minute and a possible turning point came on 43 when Luke Astley missed a penalty for the hosts.

The Miners paid the price when Gethin Roberts brought the visitors back on terms in first half injury time.

And that was the end of the scoring, numerous second half substitutions not doing the trick for Meliden, who had Reece Chamberlain sent off seven minutes into added time for a second yellow.

DIVISION ONE

Betws-y-Coed 2 Llysfaen 7

A valiant effort from the hosts but a Dan Batey brace, Steven Collins double, Jake Twist rocket and Nihat Sutlubulak and Harry Davies’ first goals in senior football ensured Llysfaen got the winless streak off their backs.

Battling Betws hit back through Sam Hawkins and new signing Mike Chapman.