JD Cymru North – Airbus beat unlucky Llandudno with two late goals, Holywell victorious again

JD CYMRU NORTH – REPORTS, MONDAY, AUGUST 28

Airbus UK Broughton 2 (Eyre 82 & 87)
Llandudno 1 (Ellis 11)

You have to feel for Llandudno.

Bottom of the table after four defeats in four games, yet they have come up against a top-four team in every match so far and only lost three fixtures by a single goal.

Today they were 1-0 up at leaders Airbus with eight minutes to go, but the Seasiders conceded twice late on and finished up pointless.

Tudno are playing well and their luck has to change soon. They say the table doesn’t lie, but the current Cymru North standings do not reflect how well this team hastily put together with a brand new set of players over the summer and forced to ground share has done.

As for Airbus, their 100 percent winning record stretched to five matches.

The hosts struggled to get the ball down and play in the first 10 minutes, but Jordan Evans created a chance from nothing. He drove into the box but his deflected cross clipped the crossbar.

Immediately after Airbus had that first opening, Llandudno created space for Harvey Bennett to deliver a cross to the far post for Liam Ellis to score and give the visitors a shock 11th minute lead.

The goal woke Airbus up and half-chances were created, but the shooting was off target.

Just after the half hour, Mark Allen’s table-toppers tested away keeper Joe Angus for the first time. Jordan Evans picked out Craig Lindfield, whose snap shot was smartly saved by the 17-year-old Angus.

Half time arrived with the underdogs still a goal ahead.

Airbus started the second half a lot brighter with good spells of possession and positive play going forward.

Angus’ first save of the half saw him somehow thwart a shot by Kieran Evans from just outside the box.

Young Angus did spill the ball, but was able to collect on the second attempt before Lindfield could get there.

Just after the hour mark, Sam Baker was introduced for the ‘Bus in place of George Peers.

Baker’s directness caused problems for the Llandudno defence, but still the goal would not come. Evans sent a low shot towards the near post for Angus to superbly get down and push it for a corner.

The teenage glovesman pulled another fantastic save off, when Lindfield found himself in the Llandudno box. He turned to hit a brilliant strike which looked destined to be a goal, but Angus’ great reflexes allowed him to direct the ball over the bar.

Finally, on 82 minutes Airbus equalised when Jake Eyre smashed a shot into the back of the net after superb work from substitute Nick Grogan.

Five minutes later it was 2-1. A brilliant through ball from Evans found Baker, who was in behind the Llandudno defence. Baker picked out Eyre who made the most of a yard of space by firing into the net.

Seven minutes were added on, but there were no more goals and Airbus were no doubt relieved to take the points.

Bangor 1876 1 Prestatyn Town 4

Report: Jonathan Ervine

Bangor 1876 finished up a well-beaten side at the hands of Prestatyn Town.

There was drama inside the opening 30 seconds at Nantporth Stadium when home keeper Carl Jones was adjudged to have fouled Prestatyn’s Karl Clair as he broke into the box. Clair stepped up to calmly convert the penalty.

Town had a glorious chance to double their advantage when Clair broke the offside trap and went clean through on goal. However, Jones came out quickly and saved with his feet.

Bangor rallied, Dan Cox curling the ball narrowly over the crossbar before Liam Morris was unlucky to see his shot on the turn hit the outside of the post and rebound to safety.

Against the run of play, Prestatyn made it 2-0 eight minutes before the break.

Clair broke into the penalty area and it initially looked like his attempt had been blocked but the ball broke to Daniel Atkins who found the net from seven yards out.

Half-time: 0-2

Bangor sought to make a positive start to the second half and forced two early corners. Corey Jones got in a powerful header at the back post but his attempt was parried by Prestatyn goalkeeper Michael Jones.

After 56 minutes, the Seasiders added a third goal with their first attack of the second period. Following a Bangor corner, Atkins broke from inside his own half and beat several defenders before scoring with a low shot from the right-side of the penalty area.

The hosts missed chances and with 20 minutes left, Prestatyn made it four. A cross was swung in from the right and beat Carl Jones after taking a deflection.

Not long after, Craig Whelan almost reduced the arrears but his shot from just outside the box hit the top of the crossbar.

With eight minutes left, Bangor bagged a consolation. A neat pass from Harry Galeotti found Corrig McGonigle inside the box and he calmly side-footed past Jones.

Bangor continued to press in the closing stages but were unable to add any further goals.

Buckley Town 1 Porthmadog 1

Sam McCormick’s 84th minute equaliser rescued a point for Buckley.

Port had taken a 75th minute lead through Telor Williams, Morgan Owen with the assist.

Shaun Cavanagh had missed a penalty for the visitors five minutes from the break.

Chirk AAA 0 Denbigh Town 1

A cracking 61st minute goal from Tom Weir clinched a much-needed win for Denbigh, who had previously triumphed 1-0 at Holyhead Road earlier this season in the Nathaniel MG Cup.

Flint Town United 3 Gresford Athletic 0

The Silkmen maintained their unbeaten league record with an impressive home victory over Gresford.

Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro had an early effort cleared off the line before the hosts went one-up after 20 minutes.

A wonderful curling delivery was met by Elliott Reeves, who scored with a glancing header.

With a crowd of 452 in attendance, Flint were inspired to take a two-goal lead on 50 minutes when Sol Forde rose highest to head his first net-finder for the club.

Harley Brindley-Peagram came on in the 70th and four minutes later he put away goal number three for Lee Fowler’s men.

Holywell Town 3 Mold Alexandra 0

Four out of four for Holywell, who proved too strong for their local rivals at the Achieve More Stadium.

The Wellmen broke the deadlock on 40 minutes when despite offside calls from the visitors, Tom Bibby was allowed to slide the ball home.

Bibby was involved in Town’s second on 63 minutes, his free kick to the back post headed in by Danny Sullivan.

And Bibby added another assist in the 73rd, his pass releasing Jake Cooke to tuck the ball away to the keeper’s right.

The win should have been more emphatic for Johnny Haseldin’s side, but 3-0 will do them nicely.

Weekend results

Friday: Guilsfield 1 Llanidloes Town 1
Saturday: Caersws 5 Ruthin Town 1