Grassroots North Wales Welsh Cup Match of the Day – CPD Y Rhyl 1879 v Ruthin Town

GRASSROOTS NORTH WALES MATCH OF THE DAY – WELSH CUP SECOND ROUND

CPD Y RHYL 1879 0
RUTHIN TOWN 2 (Morris 47, G Owen 73)

Although they suffered their first defeat in 40 league and cup matches stretching back 400 days, Rhyl 1879 showed enough quality in Saturday’s Welsh Cup clash to suggest they could make a real go of it in tier 2 Cymru North.

There was to be no giant-killing for Gareth Thomas’ tier 3 Ardal North West side as they went down to a well-drilled Ruthin outfit from a league above, but over the 90 minutes it was a pretty even contest.

Rhyl had not lost a competitive match since September 3, 2021, when they crashed 5-0 to Cymru Premier giants Connah’s Quay Nomads at this same Welsh Cup stage.

Since then they had gone 27 league matches – 26 wins, 1 draw – and 12 cup ties without defeat before finally meeting their match in Ruthin.

Indeed, they have never lost a league game since forming for the 2021-22 season, a 30-match streak comprising 28 victories and two draws.

Ruthin were definitely a class above any side they will encounter at tier 3, but the visitors had to work very hard for their reward.

Town suffered an early blow when defender Tom Dyer, a two-goal hero from free kicks in a 3-2 win over Chirk the previous weekend, was forced off injured on 10 minutes after going down in agony defending against a Rhyl attack. He needed lengthy treatment and was unable to continue.

Dyer had earlier been presented with a chance to score from roughly the same position as his second free kick net-finder eight days earlier, but on this occasion the Rhyl wall did its job.

In a first half of few clear chances, the best effort came from Ruthin.

Home keeper Luke Wilmot came racing way out of his goal, but failed to stop Josh Jones in his tracks. The custodian was stranded as Jones crossed into Llyr Morris whose shot was magnificently headed off the line by Miles Todd.

The hosts had a penalty shout when Alex Jones went down in the box, but in general the ball just wasn’t falling for 1879 in the danger areas.

After such a disciplined first half performance, Rhyl needed to keep it tight in the early stages of the second period, but for once their defending let them down in the opening exchanges.

Morris was allowed far too much space to run into the box and place the ball past Wilmot to give Town a 47th minute lead.

Rhyl responded positively, their closest call coming when striker Macauley Taylor brilliantly controlled an awkward pass from Aaron White and let fly with a stinging volley which brought an amazing save out of Dan Goldston.

The next goal would prove vital and it came for Ruthin. Gwion Owen hit a fierce shot which took a wicked deflection off Rhyl skipper Reece Fairhurst, giving Wilmot no chance.

Still the home side refused to fold and threw everything at the Vale of Clwyd visitors.

Substitute Jack Higgins was unlucky when his shot was cleared off the goal-line by Dan Cox, while another penalty appeal was dismissed.

In added time, the home side’s Leon Atkins was shown a red card.

The final whistle blew on a great tie in which several Rhyl players impressed, none more so than defender Todd, who was a colossus at the back.

Vita Mbolokele was a similar man-mountain in defence for Ruthin, taking on a central role after Dyer’s early injury.

RHYL 1879
Luke Wilmot, Sion Williams (Jack Higgins 45+), Casey Faulkner, (Chris Bennett 31) James Jones, Reece Fairhurst (c), Miles Todd, Aaron White (Tom Cain 74), Alex Jones, Macauley Taylor (Leon Atkins 74), Kieran Ellis, Warren Adam (Elliott Evans 82).

RUTHIN TOWN
Dan Goldston, Dafydd Evans, Dan Cox, Vita Mbolokele, Tom Dyer (Ethan Davies 10), Osian Davies (Robbie Williams 83), Josh Jones, Sam Rickett, Llyr Morris (Owen Heath 84), Gwion Owen, Sam Jones (Will Owen 65)