North Wales Coast East Premier – Sports battle back for heroic victory, Llandyrnog strike late double to draw
NORTH WALES COAST EAST PREMIER DIVISION – REPORTS NOVEMBER 26, 2022
CPD Llannefydd 2 Prestatyn Sports 3
Sports produced an heroic performance at Cae Llannefydd to claim three points and move up to third in the Premier Division.
John Hargreaves and Sion Williams’ side started off really well and were unlucky to go behind to a well-headed goal from Jared Jones via a corner just before half time.
After a team talk which lifted the whole side, Sports came out fighting in the second half and were level on 53 minutes.
A fantastic free kick from Mark Price led to a scramble in the box, the ball falling to Tom Wickerson who finished from close range to make it 1-1.
Just five minutes later a mix up in the away team defence led to Gaz Walsh accidentally putting the ball past his own keeper.
Far from their heads going down, the visitors came back even stronger and another excellent delivery into the box was met by Alex Hall, who rose highest to head over the keeper and score his first for the club to make it 2-2 on 65 minutes.
The winner came on 75 when some tremendous work by Price set Wickerson free again to round the keeper and give Sports the lead.
The real heroics came afterwards as the travellers battled for every ball to see out the game, throwing bodies on the line and leaving everything out on the pitch to secure the result.
Llannefydd’s Robin Hughes was shown a red card after the final whistle.
Llandyrnog United 3 Llandudno Junction 3
A six-goal thriller at Cae Nant saw Llandyrnog fight back from 3-1 down to grab a point with a pair of late strikes.
After going 1-0 up through a Ross Gilbert goal on eight minutes, the hosts became sloppy and conceded three goals before the break, Jack Nettleton scoring twice and Adam Williams adding a single for Junction.
The second half saw a much better display from the hosts, as they pushed hard to claw back the deficit.
Steffan Jones, Osian Audley and Dyrny legend Derry Morris came off the bench within a short time of each other, and the pressure began to tell.
Tomos Cumming was brought down for a penalty in the 85th minute which was superbly dispatched by Craig Jones.
Jimmy McNally’s side continued to press, Morris forcing a superb save from Gethin Hughes, only for Audley to miss a great chance from the rebound.
Morris then hit the post, but fortunately Craig Jones was on hand to convert the rebound for 3-3.
A fourth looked to be a cert when Audley found a clear-cut chance, but he again dragged it wide. Then a last-minute volley from the evergreen Morris crashed over the bar, and the game ended honours even.
Blaenau Amateurs 1 St Asaph City 5
Goals from Tyler Joyce, Josh Brown, substitute Kieran Garnett-Hughes and a double from Ray Knight clinched Saints another win, making it 11 league matches unbeaten with a four-point lead at the summit.
Joe Dukes-Morgan replied with a penalty for Blaenau.
Bro Cernyw 0 Cerrigydrudion 0
All-square at Cae Ysgol, so a point apiece.
Glan Conwy 0 Llansannan 2
Gruffudd Roberts and Gethin Rogers scored a goal apiece in the second half to seal three points for Llansannan.
Llanfairfechan Town 2 Meliden 5
Meliden battled back from two goals down to earn an emphatic win at the Rec.
Elliot Croston struck on nine and 17 minutes in a great start from Llanfairfechan, but Macauley Ross quickly halved the arrears and James Cairns made it 2-2 before the break.
Luke Astley put Meliden ahead on 65 minutes, then Cairns notched his second after 67.
The away side’s Lewis Thompson was dismissed for a second yellow on 71, but substitute Oliver Jones made it 5-2 two minutes from time.
Kinmel Bay 3 Rhuddlan Town 2 (abandoned 65 min)
This match was abandoned on 65 minutes by referee Anthony Howard after the reaction to him brandishing two red cards to Rhuddlan.
A NWCFA investigation will decide whether the result stands.
Kinmel Bay led 3-2 at the time of the stoppage, Connor Morris, Ian Dunn and Anthony Jones scoring for the hosts, Marios Avraam with both for Town.