Ardal North West – victories for Rhyl 1879, Bangor 1876, Llangefni and Brickfield
LOCK STOCK ARDAL NORTH WEST LEAGUE – MARCH 18
CPD Y Felinheli 1 CPD Y Rhyl 1879 2
Whatever hurdles are put in front of them CPD Y Rhyl 1879 keep finding ways to win.
Saturday saw the Lilywhites make it seven straight victories with a hard-fought success at renowned battlers Y Felinheli.
Gareth Thomas’ Ardal North West leaders are nine points clear with a tricky trip to Llangefni coming up this Saturday.
They will travel to Anglesey having not lost in 11 league outings.
The weekend test at Felinheli saw 1879 unlucky not to get straight on the scoresheet when a great move resulted in Jack Higgins breaking through the defence and whipping his effort in from just inside the box only to see it hit the bar.
Macauley Taylor also went close for the away side before Felinheli started to show what they are made of.
In the 14th minute Gruff John saw keeper Luke Wilmot off his line and struck the ball from outside the box but also rattled the crossbar.
John would put Felin in front two minutes later following pressure down the right that ended up in a corner. He was the first to get a touch from an in-swinging cross and put Rhyl behind in a match for the first time this year.
Rhyl’s response was almost immediate. With back to goal on the edge of the box, Alex Jones turned and used his determination to drive forward, committed keeper Guto Hughes and slotted the ball home.
Just after the half-hour, 1879 would go into the lead.
Alex Jones played a ball to Higgins just inside the box. Under pressure Higgins could only hold the defender back, the two fell to the ground but the Rhyl man was able to find Jones, who sent his shot goalwards only for it to ricochet off the bar. Sion Williams was first to react and fire past Hughes.
In a second half mudbath, no further goals were scored.
Macauley Taylor, Kieran Ellis, the effective Chris Bennett and White were all denied by Hughes, while at the other end John headed over from a great position.
Hawarden Rangers 0 Bangor 1876 2
Michael Johnston’s 1876 edged up to second with a 2-0 triumph at Gladstone Playing Fields.
In damp conditions, early away threats included Corrig McGonigle narrowly failing to connect with a Les Davies cross.
Hawarden were not holding back either, the hosts forcing a good save from Huw Shaw,
The 20th minute almost saw a home goal as Scott Davies’ looped shot hit the post.
As the half-hour passed free kicks started to became important. The first saw Hawarden test Shaw but the second, in the 35th minute, helped to produce a cross that led to Tom Clarke putting 1876 ahead by flicking the ball past the keeper with his head.
Half Time: Hawarden Rangers 0 Bangor 1876 1
Top-scorer McGonigle, with 47 to his credit this term, had a couple of close calls after the restart before 1876 did double their lead in the 49th minute when Gethin Thomas collected Davies’ expertly judged through ball and calmly beat Simpson.
Hawarden rallied defiantly, but the visitors defended well.
One Rangers attack saw the ball deflected by an 1876 head onto the top of the crossbar.
In the 80th minute, Simpson saved a curled McGonigle free kick, then Shaw produced a double stop to deny the hosts in the following minutes
Bangor’s Shaun Lock received a red card in the closing stages.
Rhostyllen 0 Llangefni Town 2
Top-scorer Matty Jones provided the goals on 44 and 52 minutes that secured three points for visitors Llangefni.
Rhostyllen had William Roberts red-carded on 43 minutes with the score at 0-0.
Saltney Town 1 Brickfield Rangers 3
Andy Vale struck twice to reach 19 goals this season for a Brickfield outfit which finished on top at the Dragon Steel Stadium.
Gerson Silva-Neto put Rangers in front in the 24th minute, Sam Reynolds levelled on 34, but a Vale spot-kick after 40 gave Bricky an interval lead.
It remained in the balance until Vale delivered a crucial third for the visitors in the first minute of added time.