Cymru North – Colwyn Bay and Holywell Town both win away to remain joint top
CYMRU NORTH REPORTS – OCTOBER 22
Porthmadog 2 Holywell Town 3
Ten-man Holywell produced arguably the best performance yet of their eight-match winning run to recover from 2-0 down and take the points at Y Traeth with an 89th minute decider.
Porthmadog took a fourth-minute lead when Gethin Maxwell’s header from Gareth Jones-Evans’ cross found the bottom corner of Keighan Jones’ goal.
Town looked for a quick reply and it nearly came when Morgan Murray turned and shot, but Morgan Jones in the home goal saved with his legs.
The visitors were looking dangerous. Captain Danny Andrews broke down the right and his cross found Tom Bibby, whose header was kept out by Jones.
Porthmadog’s cause was not helped when boss Craig Papirnyk, Cymru Leagues Manager of the Month for September, was ordered from the dugout for using foul and abusive language towards the assistant-referee, but his side were coping well under pressure.
Sullivan and Ilan ap Gareth had efforts for the Flintshire team before Port went two-up on 36 minutes.
The hosts beat the offside trap and Rhys Alun Williams was able to get past on-rushing keeper Jones and roll the ball into an empty net.
Half-time: Porthmadog 2-0 Holywell
Six minutes into the second half, Town pulled a goal back.
Jones kept out a shot, but the rebound fell to Zebb Edwards who controlled and lashed into the top corner.
The goal gave Town the belief that they could get another, and Dave Forbes was really unlucky when his low strike went inches wide.
In the 68th minute, the visitors were level.
Andrews applied the finish after robbing the defender who had done well to get the ball off Haci Ozlu.
On 70 minutes, Town were reduced to 10 men, Forbes adjudged to have elbowed an opponent.
Holywell still looked the likeliest to grab the winner. Andrews and Ozlu had chances and as the game entered the final few minutes, Wellmen manager Johnny Haseldin replaced Ozlu with Oli Buckley.
The sub had only been on the pitch a minute when he grabbed the late winner. A defensive mix up saw the ball cleared only as far as Buckley, who watched as his effort rolled into the bottom corner to spark off great scenes among the Wellmen players and fans.
Guilsfield 2 Colwyn Bay 3
Bay twice came from behind and snatched a 3-2 win to remain unbeaten at the JD Cymru North summit on goal difference.
James Kirby got the 85th minute winner after earlier goals from Alex Downes and Sam Hart.
The Seagulls’ Matty Hill missed an early penalty for a foul on Tom Creamer before Guilsfield took the lead through Josh Astley on 20 minutes.
Downes equalised with a fine effort from the edge of the area, but in first half added time Bay conceded a penalty themselves and Iwan Matthews made no mistake from the spot.
As the second half wore on, Bay’s proud record was under threat, but on 73 minutes they finally pulled level through Hart.
Then with just five minutes of normal time remaining Kirby snatched victory with his 10th goal of the season from another penalty.
Chirk AAA 0 Holyhead Hotspur 0
Prior to the game a minute’s silence was impeccably observed by players and supporters of both clubs as a mark of respect to former Chirk player Pat Sheil, who sadly passed away during the week.
Club legend Pat was a Welsh Youth international who won the Welsh Youth Cup, two Welsh Amateur Cups and numerous league titles with Chirk during the 1950’s and 60’s.
RIP Pat.
It was all square at Holyhead Road on Saturday after a drab affair with few goal-scoring opportunities for either side.
Only in the last 15 minutes did the game open up with Chirk looking more likely to snatch a winner.
And with minutes remaining Dale Davies thought he had bagged the winner. A great Ashton Williams header bounced off the bar with Davies on hand to tap in but controversially the goal was ruled offside.
And that was it, all square with Chirk maintaining their unbeaten home league record.
Gresford Athletic 2 Cefn Druids 1
A much-needed win for Gresford lifted them off the bottom of the table.
Chances were missed by the hosts before they capitalised on their dominance in the 42nd minute, when Simon Smith flicked the ball over to Adam Hesp, who headed home to make it 1-0 at half time.
The second half continued with the same momentum for Gresford, Dominic Deacon making a brilliant run past several opponents, but his shot was saved by goalkeeper Michael Jones.
Deacon did find his breakthrough, though, when Joshua Griffiths played him through brilliantly in the 56th minute. Man of the match Deacon slotted home to grab a goal on his birthday.
Cefn Druids certainly had more chances in the second half, but were unable to pull a goal back until the 88th minute, when player-manager Neil Ashton struck.
Gresford held on for the remaining few minutes and earned a deserved win at Clappers Lane.
Llanidloes Town 4 Buckley Town 1
Andy Evans and Jamie Breese scored two apiece for a Llanidloes side who recovered to win after conceding an early goal, Asa Hamilton giving Buckley a seventh-minute lead.
Connor Littler was sent off for the visitors just before half-time.
Mold Alexandra 0 Llandudno 3
A flying start for Llandudno delivered two goals in the first five minutes at Alyn Park.
Joe Chaplin notched a second-minute penalty before a Marc Williams headed net-finder soon followed.
Midway through the second half, Gaz Evans made it three and the points were safe.
Penrhyncoch 2 Conwy Borough 5
A third straight league win for rejuvenated Conwy saw them pile on five goals away from home.
John Littlemore, Sean McCaffrey, Conor Davies (2) and Craig Whelan split the nap hand, Liam Lewis and Tihomir Trifonov responding for the hosts.
Prestatyn Town 3 Ruthin Town 1
This match was reported on by Grassroots North Wales on Friday evening.
Goals from Tom Hilditch, Kurtis Pearson and Dan Atkins banked three more points for Prestatyn, Vita Mbolokele with a consolation for Ruthin.