Cymru North – Promoted 1876 give out thrashing while Flint and Holywell grab narrow wins

CYMRU NORTH REPORTS – WEEKEND JULY 28-29

Bangor 1876 6 Llanidloes Town 0

Corrig McGonigle suggested he can be every bit as effective in tier 2 as he has been at levels 3 and 4 with Bangor 1876 as the lethal hitman bagged an opening day hat-trick in a 6-0 caning dished out by the Cymru North newcomers.

Saturday’s biggest domestic crowd in Wales of 626 gathered at Nantporth Stadium to see Michael Johnston’s side begin life in the second-tier with a six-goal super show.

Leading the charge was McGonigle, who in his first two campaigns with 1876 banged in a remarkable 90 goals in 50 appearances. He already has four in two outings this season.

After several near misses, the blues finally opened the scoring midway through the opening period.

A neat pass from Liam Morris found McGonigle on the left side of the box and he calmly slotted past keeper Luke Evans.

Close to the 25-minute mark, Sam Jones doubled the advantage when he got on the end of a neat pass before rounding the keeper and rolling the ball into the net.

Just before the half hour, Bangor scored a third. A cross by Sion Edwards from the left reached the head of Corey Jones, whose effort struck the crossbar. The ball bounced down, hit the unfortunate Drew Reynolds and rolled over the line for an own goal.

Within a minute, McGonigle was denied by an excellent save from Evans.

Into the second half, and McGonigle scored his second direct from a 25 yard free-kick.

With 12 minutes left, McGonigle completed his hat trick with a shot from the edge of the penalty area that went in off the post.

Bangor added a sixth on 85. Harry Galeotti broke into the right side of the box and his powerful shot took a slight deflection on its way into the net.

Flint Town United 2 Denbigh Town 1

Depleted title favourites Flint got the opening day win they desired on their return to the Cymru North, but promoted visitors Denbigh pushed them all the way.

Silkmen manager Lee Fowler was without 10 first team squad members (five transfers awaiting international clearance, three suspensions held over from last season and two injuries), so he had to rely heavily on the club’s Academy players and was only able to name three substitutes.

Nevertheless, the youngsters who came in did both manager and club proud in front of a healthy 400 plus crowd at the Essity Stadium.

The hosts got off to a dream start, scoring just after the minute mark.

Ashton Mather struck the bar, but Harley Peagram showed great alertness to follow in and stab the ball home.

Not long after, a Jake Phillips long throw found the head of Elliott Reeves, but his flicked effort was cleared off the line.

Out of the blue, Denbigh had the ball in the back of the Flint net from a spectacular 30-yard strike only to see it disallowed. From a drop ball that fell to Ryan Kershaw, the Denbigh player smashed home from distance.

Unfortunately for the away team, a second player had not touched the ball, which is now a necessity following an uncontested drop ball, and so the effort was ruled out.

Following that let off, Flint should have increased their lead when Reeves was through on goal with just the keeper to beat, but sent his shot the wrong side of the post.

Denbigh started to assert themselves as more of an attacking force and were rewarded on 34 minutes, when a ball was centred from the left and ex-Flint player Tom Weir scored from close range.

Three minutes before the break, Phillips cut in from the right and unleashed a shot that Denbigh keeper Aaron Jones did well to keep out.

Flint endured some early second-half pressure from a Denbigh side who now had the wind in their sails before the Silkmen grabbed what proved to be the decisive second goal on 56 minutes.

Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro struck a sublime through ball into the path of Reeves. He deftly took it in his stride, before shooting past keeper Jones from a wide angle.

It was almost 3-1 when Ben Hughes’ effort came agonisingly back off the post and Jones did well to block Peagram’s follow up.

Town pressed for another equaliser in the closing stages.

Rhys Williams, making his debut in the Flint goal, remained relatively untroubled until added on time, when he managed to parry out a Jake Walker shot before Danny Harrison was on hand to hack clear from just in front of the goal-line.

Flint cleared another attempt off the goal-line before the final whistle.

Holywell Town 1 Porthmadog 0

Last season’s runners-up Holywell bounced back from an opening weekend Nathaniel MG Cup home loss to Bangor 1876 by winning their first league encounter of the 2023-24 campaign at Porthmadog’s expense.

Both sides had early efforts before Port’s Cai Jones fired the ball into the net but the assistant’s flag was up for offside.

A minute after that scare, Town’s Dave Forbes was denied by a good Meilir Ellis save.

The deadlock was broken with 18 minutes on the clock. Brady McGilloway’s corner found James Graham at the far post and he fired home to give the Wellmen the lead.

Danny Andrews almost added a second with a first time effort which forced the keeper to tip the ball out for a corner.

Near the interval, McGilloway picked the ball up on the edge of the area and blasted in a shot which smashed against the crossbar with the keeper beaten.

Holywell were on top at the start of the second half, Gaz Evans hitting the bar with a powerful strike.

Forbes was next to clatter the crossbar with a header before Julian Williams saw his attempt hit the post.

Port posed occasional danger, Ifan Jones with a fierce volley from outside the area which Pearson saved well, then Morgan Owen blazed a shot wide.

Ellis then saved really well from Andrews’ point blank effort.

Lots of attempts, but just one goal was enough to win it.

Airbus UK Broughton 3 Guilsfield 0

Second-half goals from George Peers, Craig Lindfield and Jake Eyre won this one for the Wingmakers.

Caersws 2 Llandudno 1

Rhys Hesden and Callum Francis-Jones delivered the goals which sealed the points for Caersws, Danny Holland replying for Llandudno with a penalty.

Prestatyn Town 1 Gresford Athletic 0

Debutant Karl Clair clinched the points for Prestatyn with a rasping 80th minute winner at Bastion Gardens.

Dan Atkins hit the post for Town in the first half and was also thwarted by a fine Michael Jones save.

Chirk AAA 0 Buckley Town 1

Chirk lost out to visitors Buckley after a close encounter at Holyhead Road last Friday..

Buckley took the early initiative and went ahead after just 13 minutes with striker Jake Roberts netted after a scramble in the home penalty box.

The Bucks piled on the pressure and it took an amazing double save from keeper Oliver Farebrother to keep the score down.

At the other end Dale Davies saw his header brilliantly saved by Ryan Goldston to keep his side ahead.

Farebrother was again called into action just before the break when he pulled off another great stop.

Chirk started the second period well with both Josh Evans and Josh Phillips controlling the midfield but the hosts struggled to break down the stubborn Buckley defence.

Late on, Steff Rogers broke free down Chirk’s right and his fine low cross evaded everyone but was grasped on the line by the grateful Goldston.

Buckley held on to claim all three points. Chirk played well but could not get that equalising goal they probably deserved.

Ruthin Town 1 Mold Alexandra 2

Eric Durnell and Danny Warren pocketed the goals that mattered as Mold took all three points at the Memorial Playing Fields.

Mold started well and were awarded an early penalty, but keeper Dan Goldston saved Durnell’s kick.

Alex took the lead on 43 through a fine Durnell finish, only for Llyr Morris to equalise two minutes later.

There was still time for Mold to go down to 10 men before half time when Henry Nash was dismissed for serious foul play.

Early in the second half Ruthin lost Tom Dyer to a second yellow card.

Town earned a penalty with 15 minutes to go but Soulayman El Amri hit the bar.

A few minutes later Mold bagged the winner through Warren.