Match of the Day 3: Mike Williams scores on debut as Phoenix begin with a victory

North Wales Coast East Premier Division

Penmaenmawr Phoenix 2 (Montgomery OG 7, M Williams 69)
Llandyrnog United 0

Former Wrexham and Wales Under-21 defender Mike Williams marked his league debut for Penmaenmawr Phoenix with a goal in Saturday’s 2-0 triumph at Cae Sling.

Williams, 36, who began his football with Penmaenmawr as a youngster and in more recent years has played for Bangor City, Colwyn Bay and Llandudno, netted his new team’s decisive second goal against Llandyrnog in the final quarter of a tier 4 North Wales Coast East Premier Division clash.

The Phoenix went into their league opener full of confidence after a strong pre-season.

It was Pen who started the game quickly, playing some free flowing football, midfield ace Ricky Jones linking up well with striker Alfie Caldecott, who was causing Llandyrnog problems at the back from the off,

In the seventh minute a well-worked set piece caused all sorts of difficulties for the visitors in the box which led to Thomas Montgomery turning the ball into his own net.

Llandyrnog woke up and started to play their way into the game, creating a couple of half-chances but the Phoenix defence stood up to the test and defended well together as a unit.

Half-time: 1-0

It was the Penmen again who started the second half in lively fashion, playing some good football all over the pitch and nullifying any threats from Llandyrnog.

The Phoenix were unlucky not to double the lead in the 60th minute when Dyrny’s keeper Ryan Fox made a fantastic double save to keep his side in the game.

In the 69th minute it was that man Mike Williams on his competitive debut back at Cae Sling who put the game to bed.

A delightful cross from Logan Williams found Mike Williams unmarked eight yards from goal and he made no mistake with a bullet header into the top corner.

Llandyrnog had Neil Brown red-carded in the 90th minute.

A happy winning manager Aaron Keating said: “Good luck to Llandyrnog for the season ahead. They have certainly improved from last season and I can see the work they are putting in. We look forward to visiting your ground later in the season.”

PENMAENMAWR PHOENIX

William Liam Jones
Daniel McIlvogue (Scott McGoona 80)
Jamie Jones (Billy Sieben 80)
Daniel Hughes
Mike Williams
Logan Williams (Darren Evans 70)
Lee Stokes
Gavin Simpson
Alfie Caldecott
Ricky Jones (c – Morgan Roberts 80)
Elliot Jarvis (Lewis Roberts 69)

LLANDYRNOG UNITED

Ryan Fox
Daniel Smith
Thomas Montgomery (Danny Porter 70)
Jamie Jones (Neil Brown 73)
Rob Hurst
Robert Lawson
Huw Sadler (Shaun Davies 73)
Adam Harvey-Davies (Daniel Maclean 81)
Sean James (Joel Rowlands 73)
Nathan Rose
Osian Audley