Match of the Day 2: Ardal North West – Saltney Town v Llanrwst United
REPORT: ARDAL NORTH WEST LEAGUE
Saltney Town 1 (Stephens 17)
Llanrwst United 3 (Davies 48 & 90+3 pen, Parry 73)
There are some outstanding striking partnerships in the tier 3 Ardal North West League – count Llanrwst’s Callum Parry and Conor Davies among them.
Both already well established front men at this level, the Rwsters pairing shared the three goals which secured three points at the Dragon Steel Stadium on Saturday.
Hosts Saltney named their youngest side in almost a decade for this latest fixture.
The Bordermen had started the campaign well with a draw at Conwy Borough and midweek victory over Hawarden Rangers.
Injuries to captain Hayden Hughes and Leon Flatman forced Saltney manager Neill Rees-Hughes to look to youth to fill the voids in his line up and it looked to have worked in the 17th minute when he watched his side take the lead.
George Davies found James Stephens, who rounded Gwydion Owen to slot the ball home from close range.
A confident Saltney continued to match the visitors’ intensity and their lead was almost doubled on 23 minutes when Stephens rifled a shot off the bar.
Moments later, the bar was rattling again, this time Sean Williams with the strike.
At half time Hughes would have been delighted with his side’s start to the encounter, however the experience of the Rwsters would soon come into play.
A rejuvenated Llanrwst re-entered the arena for the second half and it was not long before that experience would show itself.
With less than three minutes played, Conor Davies found himself with time and space. Taking full advantage, he curled the ball into the top corner from 25 yards, leaving Josh Cooke in the home goal with no chance.
The equaliser boosted the visitors and Saltney struggled to gain composure.
On 73 minutes, Davies switched from scorer to provider as he showed great strength down the left before pulling the ball back to Callum Parry to send the ball home at the back post.
Saltney’s youth tried their best to get themselves back into the game but it just wasn’t to be.
In fact, it would be a touch of salt into the wound when, in stoppage time, the referee deemed Cyprian Kulasza to have committed a foul inside the box and awarded the visitors a penalty.
Davies stepped up to ensure his side took all three points.
Home boss Hughes will be disappointed with the result, but also pleased with his side’s first half performance and maybe one or two of the young guns caught his eye.
Attendance: 133
SALTNEY TOWN
Josh Cooke
Ethan Owens
Lewis Evans (Jack Jarvis 85)
Cyprian Kulasza
Harrison Keeley
George Davies (Josh Rylance 85)
James Stevens (David Waliewicz 75)
Connor Williams
Sam Reynolds (Ricky Wilson 74)
Louis Davies (Raymond Waters 61)
Sean Williams
LLANRWST UNITED
Gwydion Owen
Joel Morgan Jones (Michard Pollard 90+5)
Matt Mullender
Will Owen-Ford (Cynan Edwards 63)
Chris Nicolson
Math Thomas
Conor Davies
Leon Doran
Callum Parry (Ilan Davies 90+2)
Leighton Griffiths
Cai Evans (Chris Beardmore 64)