Ardal North West – huge wins for CPD Y Rhyl 1879, Denbigh Town and Hawarden Rangers

LOCK STOCK ARDAL NORTH WEST REPORTS – MARCH 11

CPD Y Rhyl 4 Llay Welfare 2

Report: Shôn Hughes

Substitute Jonny Taylor struck twice against his old club to keep Ardal North West leaders Rhyl 1879 well and truly in the title race driving seat.

Gareth Thomas’ side are eight points clear at the summit after making it six straight league wins and 10 games unbeaten, nine of them victories.

Despite the recent bad weather, Saturday’s game at Belle Vue went ahead as planned thanks to the efforts of club volunteer Tom Jamieson when several games in the division fell victim to Storm Larisa.

Within seconds of the start Sion Williams found space down the right and put the ball into the box where Alex Jones’ header was saved by Kyle Flower.

As the game grew, James Stead, making his first start since joining in January, was hugely influential, controlling the midfield.

Both sides had chances, but the half time break arrived goalless.

Llay’s impressive Jonathan Collo tested Luke Wilmot before 1879 broke the deadlock in the 49th minute.

Tom Kemp broke down the left and cut the ball into the box where Alex Jones put away his 10th goal of the campaign.

Llay would take control for a spell, but failed to break down the stubborn Rhyl defence, Miles Todd standing out.

Home manager Thomas decided the game needed a change of direction and on 62 minutes made a double substitution that would pay off immediately, top goal scorer Jack Higgins and James Stead making way for Aaron White and Jonny Taylor.

Just moments after his introduction, Jonny Taylor made it 2-0. A wonderful bit of play by Macauley Taylor down the right saw him one-on-one with the keeper, and he selflessly pulled the ball back to Jonny Taylor, who smashed it in from close range with his first touch. A Taylor-made goal.

Undeterred by going two goals down the visitors raced straight up the other end and were awarded a direct free kick just outside the left corner of the box.

Striker Scott Swords dispatched a sublime effort up and over the wall and into the goal.

The two Taylors for 1879 would combine again in the 79th minute to re-establish the Lilywhites two-goal advantage.

Macauley found himself on the left in space and squared to Jonny, who fired home.

Macauley would get his 10th of the season and Rhyl’s fourth with four minutes to go, Alex Jones the provider.

Llay kept going and Collo would get another goal back deep into injury time.

Bangor 1876 0 Denbigh Town 2

Two second-half goals ensured Denbigh completed a league double over 1876 and made it three wins in total against the fan-owned club this season.

Michael Johnston’s side still have two games in hand on leaders Rhyl 1879, but now trail the Lilywhites by nine points.

Denbigh are handily-placed in fourth, 13 points in arrears of Rhyl but having played five fewer games.

Bangor 1876 fell to a home defeat against Dewi Llion’s men on a rainy afternoon at Treborth.

The visitors were first to threaten and Matthew Worrall side-footed in a pass from the right, but was flagged offside. At the other end, Les Davies headed over the bar following a Kian Owen corner.

Liam Morris was denied by a fine save from visiting goalkeeper Aaron Jones before 1876 stopper Carl Jones did well to thwart Worrall when the attacker was clear through.

Town finished the half strongly and again went close after Nathan Brown got on the end of a cross by Paul Fleming from the left, but his flicked shot was excellently saved by Jones.

In the final minute of the opening period, Fleming had a glorious chance to send his team into the break ahead after a penalty was awarded for handball. He aimed for the top right hand corner but his spot-kick rebounded off the crossbar and was cleared.

Half time: 0-0.

Jones foiled efforts from Brown and Fleming early in the second half, but on the hour, the deadlock was finally broken.

Worrall turned past a defender on the edge of the box before firing a low effort into the bottom corner.

After conceding, Bangor fought hard to get back into the game and created several chances. Morris had a shot kept out by Jones, then a cross from substitute Dylan Williams created an opportunity for Corrig McGonigle but his glancing header drifted narrowly wide.

With 20 minutes left, only an excellent save at full stretch by Jones prevented Tom Clarke finding the leveller

McGonigle went close before inside injury time, the visitors added a second goal to seal their victory. A cross was played into the box from the right and fell into the path of Jason Foulkes, who scored with a powerful low shot.

Nantlle Vale 1 Hawarden Rangers 2

A Scott Davies brace secured another huge three points for Hawarden in their battle for survival.

Having defeated Nantlle Vale 2-0 at home a fortnight earlier, Andy Butler’s side completed an impressive double which lifted them out of the bottom two.

Davies struck on 50 and 57 minutes, Llion Griffiths’ reply after 77 not enough to save the Penygroes hosts from defeat.