Ardal North West – Higgins and White right on cue to grab Rhyl 1879’s winning goals

ARDAL NORTH WEST – MARCH 25

Llangefni Town 1 (A Roberts 52)
CPD Y Rhyl 1879 2 (Higgins 17 White 45+1)

Report/Photos: Shôn Hughes – diolch

Higgins and White once contested an epic World Snooker Championship semi-final.

However, on Saturday, footballers with the same surnames grabbed the goals which earned another priceless three points for title-chasers Rhyl 1879.

With just four matches left, Gareth Thomas’ side hold a nine-point lead at the Ardal North West summit after a hard-fought weekend triumph at Llangefni.

The first real chance of the game fell to Rhyl’s Macauley Taylor 12 minutes in. A great through ball by James Stead unleashed Taylor on the right and his shot across goal went fizzing past the far post.

Five minutes later. the visitors took the lead.

Stead’s free kick found its way to Aaron White who floated the ball back into the box, where unselfishly Reece Fairhurst headed across goal directly to Jack Higgins to nod home from two yards out.

On the half hour, White got on the end of Stead’s corner and headed back across goal only for Iwan Sawicz to clear off the line.

The ball would only go as far as Macauley Taylor on the edge of the box, who blasted just over.

With seconds remaining of the first half, 1879 doubled their lead,

Stead’s wonderful corner from the right was headed home in bullet fashion by White.

Even though they had conceded so close to the break, Llangefni started the second half with the bit between their teeth.

On 52 minutes Gari Owen broke free down the right and sent in a great cross to Alun Roberts, who was able to rise above the defence and head low to Luke Wilmot’s left to make it 2-1.

Seeing the opportunity to cause another huge upset following their victory over Bangor 1876 a few weeks earlier, Town were baying for blood, but found it very hard to break through the Rhyl midfield.

They would get their best opportunity on the hour when Jack Smith would see his effort from close range cleared off the line by the imperious Fairhurst.

The last third of the game was a war of attrition with both sides struggling to break the lines. It ended 2-1 to the visitors.

Llangefni Town

Steve Sinclair, Gari Owen (C), Jack Williams, Alun Roberts, Shaun Jenkins, James McMinimee, Gerwyn Roberts, Matty Jones, Iwan Jones, Jack Smith, Iwan Sawicz. Subs – James Saxon, Cian Thomas.

CPD Y Rhyl 1879

Luke Wilmot, Sion Williams, Zac Tyler-Holland, James Jones, Reece Fairhurst (C), Miles Todd, James Stead, Alex Jones, Jack Higgins, Macauley Taylor, Aaron White. Subs – Chris Bennett, Jonny Taylor, Dan Sim, Casey Faulkner, Frankie Davies.

NOTE: Alex Higgins beat Jimmy White 16-15 in the 1982 World Snooker Championship semi-final. Northern Irishman Higgins went on to win the second world title of his career.