Cymru North reports: Airbus, Flint and Wellmen maintain perfect records

JD CYMRU NORTH – REPORTS AUG 11-12

Airbus UK Broughton 2 Porthmadog 1

After last season’s Cymru Premier struggles Airbus are responding in perfect fashion on their return to the tier 2 Cymru North.

The Wingmakers made it three straight league wins on Saturday and only trail leaders Bangor 1876 on goal difference.

Mark Allen’s side started their latest test at home to Porthmadog strongly, Craig Lindfield volleying against the post on 11 minutes.

Porthmadog created their first clear chance on the half-hour, Keighan Jones forced into a fine save to deny Danny Brookwell.

Next the hosts went close through a cracking Joe Palmer attempt from 30 yards which Matthew Wallace saved well.

Just before half-time, Airbus got their goal. An excellent long range shot from Jordan Evans was parried by Wallace to the feet of Lindfield, who had the easiest of tap-ins to make it 1-0.

Porthmadog started the second half brightly, and introducing subs Gruff Ellis and Stuart Rogers around the hour mark made them more potent in attack.

In the 71st minute, Port were awarded a penalty after Brookwell was taken down in the area by keeper Jones.

Morgan Owen made it 1-1 from the spot with around 20 minutes left.

The introduction of Sam Baker on 74 minutes proved decisive for the home team.

An 81st minute corner from Jordan Evans was headed clear by the Porthmadog defence, which found its way to Baker on the edge of the box. Baker took a touch and lashed an unstoppable shot past Wallace.

Evans looked to have added a third from a free kick, but it was not given as the ball was deemed to have been rolling.

Chirk AAA 2 Llanidloes Town 0

Chirk got off the mark for the season with a two-goal victory over Llanidloes which should have been more emphatic.

Adam Williams put the Colliers one-up on 23 minutes before Max McLaughlin added number two after 59.

Bangor 1876 2 Denbigh Town 1

First half goals from Sam Jones and Jamie Petrie were enough to secure maximum points for leaders 1876.

Craig Pritchard scored a 20-yard cracker for Denbigh on 52 minutes, but the hosts could have won by a bigger margin.

This match was reported on in full by Grassroots North Wales on Saturday.

Caersws 4 Mold Alexandra 0

Sam Phillips, Rhys Hesden, Craig Harris and Neil Mitchell all netted in the first half to put the Bluebirds in command.

No further goals were scored after the break, but the home team’s job was done.

Flint Town United 2 Prestatyn Town 1

Report: Nigel Sheen

Elliott Reeves popped up three minutes from time to deliver a winner for Flint, but a determined Prestatyn side may feel aggrieved they did not leave the Essity Stadium with a point.

The Silkmen started brightly, Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro’s flicked header tipped onto the bar and over by visiting keeper Mike Jones.

A swift attack on 13 minutes paid dividends when Akpa-Akpro produced a fine threaded through ball that Harley Brindley-Peagram managed to latch onto, and put himself into a one on one situation with Jones.

The young striker kept his cool and calmly stroked the ball past the keeper into the net.

Having gone a goal behind, Prestatyn rallied and on 32 minutes were presented with a fine opportunity to get back on terms, when they were awarded a penalty following a late lunge for the ball by Anthony Stephens.

Daniel Atkins stepped up for the visitors, but Rhys Williams brilliantly dived down to his right to keep out the spot kick. The ball rebounded into the path of Atkins, who from close range looked odds on to score.

Williams, however, somehow denied him from almost point blank range.

On 37 minutes, Akpa-Akpro seized on a loose ball, from fully 40 yards out spotted Jones off his line and attempted an audacious lob into the goal. Unfortunately for the hosts, it thudded back off the post with Jones beaten.

Half-time: 1-0

Having been the hero of the first half with his excellent double save, Williams became villain on 70 minutes, when his attempted throw out was intercepted, and the ball squared to Rob Murphy, whose effort was blocked, only for it to fall to Dylan Dunne, who smashed it home into an empty net to get Prestatyn back on terms.

It was a bitter setback for the Silkmen, who then missed a series of chances to retake the lead.

However, with the clock showing 87, Phillips hurled a throw in from inside the Prestatyn half down the touchline into Brindley-Peagram, who showed good control before cutting the ball back inside to Reeves – and he applied a sublime finish.

Prestatyn went close to a second equaliser late on, defender Joe White heading wide before Williams foiled him with a good stop.

Holywell Town 2 Llandudno 1

First half goals from Dave Forbes (penalty) and Jake Cooke were sufficient to make it back-to-back league wins for the Wellmen, but pointless Llandudno made them work hard for it.

The second half saw the visitors fight hard to get back into the game and gave themselves a shout when Yalany Baio pulled a goal back on the hour.

And Tudno pushed hard to equalise, but their stoic efforts were not enough to prevent a third straight league loss. If they keep performing like this, their luck will change.

FRIDAY SCORES….

Guilsfield 0 Buckley Town 1

Ruthin Town 1 Gresford Athletic 1