Cymru North – wins for Bay, Llandudno, Druids, Guilsfield, Gresford and Ruthin
JD CYMRU NORTH REPORTS – SATURDAY, JANUARY 8
Chirk AAA 1 Ruthin Town 2
Report: Nigel Roberts (Chirk – many thanks)
It was heartache for The Colliers at Holyhead Road with Ruthin scoring a 95th minute winner to take all 3 points.
Chirk had started well with new signing Max Mclaughlin making a promising start and causing the Ruthin defence plenty of problems down their right.
Both sides had plenty of possession with Chirk just edging the first period. And it was in the 44th minute that Andy Pryde’s men took a deserved lead when debutant Mclaughlin scored a sensational 35 yard free kick leaving Ruthin keeper Dan Goldston grasping at thin air.
Half Time: Chirk 1 Ruthin 0
Ruthin came out fighting in the second half and put Chirk under pressure from the kick off. Chirk keeper Mark Richards made a couple of smart saves to keep them at bay but he had no chance with Ruthin’s equaliser on 62 minutes when Tom Dyer smashed a 25 yard free kick into the top corner to bring his side level.
Ruthin continued to press but Chirk were holding on with some desperate defending.
However, in the 95th minute Town took advantage of a mix up in the Colliers defence and Llyr Morris was on hand to tap in the winner.
Conwy Borough 1 Gresford Athletic 3
Gresford made it back-to-back away wins and climbed out of the bottom five with a cracking result at Y Morfa.
The game started at a fast pace, with Athletic looking to attack. Sam Spridgeon made a good run in between the lines, but his shot was saved.
Visiting debutant goalkeeper Matt Busby had a good game and was called upon in the 19th minute, making a fine first save for the club.
Then, in the 36th minute, Nathan Williams had a decent effort from an angle on the left-hand side, but Borough’s Tyler French kept the ball out.
Athletic finally found a breakthrough when Simon Smith’s 40th minute free kick hit the back of the net to give the away side a 1-0 lead just before the half time whistle.
In the second half, the Colliers continued their attacking intent and were rewarded again in the 47th minute, when Nathan Williams doubled the lead with a fantastic strike after Spridgeon’s deflected pass fell to his feet.
Sam Pickering joined in the fun in the 72nd minute, heading in a Smith corner to make it 3-0 for Eddie Maurice-Jones’ side.
Conwy did manage to pull one back in the 75th minute, with Iolo Hughes getting the goal.
Simon Smith was named Man of the Match, scoring one goal and providing two assists.
Llanidloes Town 1 Cefn Druids 2
After a shock home defeat to start the new year Druids made a welcome return to winning ways.
Goals from Nick Grogan and Callum Stephens sealed the points at Victoria Park.
Ancients manager Neil Ashton was looking for a reaction from his players following a disappointing 1-0 loss at home to Gresford the week before.
Druids got off to the perfect start on 12 minutes. A corner for Druids was whipped in towards the far post by Tom Reilly and Grogan was there to meet it, his looping header evading everyone and finding the net.
However, the hosts levelled just three minutes later. A long goal kick by Llanidloes keeper Luke Evans somehow found its way through Cefn’s back-line, enabling Connor Bird to round glovesman Michael Jones and tap home to make it 1-1.
On 34 minutes the visitors got back in front through another corner. From the same side, again an excellent delivery from Reilly towards the far post, this time headed in by Stephens to make it 2-1 at the interval
It was a scrappier second 45 as both sides were battling for the all-important next goal. That goal never came as both sides defended well, and the referee blew for full-time for an excellent away win for Druids, who remain fourth in the league, only 5 points behind third and second.
POSTPONED
Mold Alexandra v Holyhead Hotspur; Penrhyncoch v Holywell Town
FRIDAY, JANUARY 7
Guilsfield 3 Buckley Town 2
Buckley were left stunned after losing a two-goal lead to be beaten by hosts Guilsfield.
Three days earlier, Bucks had recovered from 3-0 down to win 4-3, but on Friday night got a taste of their own medicine.
First-half goals from Josh Jones and Jake Roberts put the Flintshire side two to the good at the break, but before the midway stage of the second period Guils were in front courtesy of a Josh Astley double and Iwan Matthews penalty.
Porthmadog 0 Llandudno 2
Tudno regained second spot after a two-goal success at Y Traeth.
Joe Chaplin struck first for Sean Eardley’s side against his former club on 12 minutes and Shaun Cavanagh added a second after 51.
Prestatyn Town 2 Colwyn Bay 3
Tom McCready’s 92nd minute finish secured another win for leaders Bay after hosts Prestatyn had pegged themselves back to 2-2 from two-down.
Cai Owen notched first half goals for Steve Evans’ men on 28 and 41 minutes and although Craig Lindfield had a penalty saved by Josh Cooke after 43, the visitors looked comfortable at the turnaround.
However, Prestatyn came back strongly, Tom Hilditch halving the deficit on 49 minutes before the in-form Dan Atkins levelled with 74 on the clock after Seagulls keeper Cameron Darling lost control of the ball at the edge of the box.
In a frantic finish, both sides had chances before McCready latched onto a through ball and finished clinically to seal maximum points.