Rhyl 1879 top table after stunning overhead goal from James Jones paves way to win
ARDAL NORTH WEST
CPD Y RHYL 1879 2 (J Jones 78, Ellis 85)
HAWARDEN RANGERS 0
It took a magnificent overhead kick from defender James Jones to finally break Hawarden’s brave resistance and put Rhyl 1879 on their way to the win which sees them top of the table tonight.
Substitute Kieran Ellis’ late header made sure of three points for the Lilywhites at the expense of the bottom side.
Hawarden were very sound defensively and kept chances for the home side to a minimum in the first half.
Best effort for the hosts came via a Macauley Taylor acrobatic volley which visiting keeper Joseph O’Connor did well to save.
Rangers did manage the occasional attack, but came up against a rock-solid home back-line.
The second half continued to be a struggle for 1879 to make the breakthrough, Sam Ashton lashing one over the bar before O’Connor saved well from a powerful Adam Hold free kick.
Just 12 minutes remained when Rhyl at last got the scoreboard moving.
Reece Fairhurst’s header in the box was met by a tremendous overhead strike from James Jones which flew into the net and sent the crowd into raptures.
Seven minutes later, substitute James Cairns delivered deep to the back stick and Ellis rose highest to nod home.
TEAMS
CPD Y RHYL 1879
Sam Thomas
Meirion Pughe (Kieran Ellis 65)
James Jones
Reece Fairhurst
Sam Ashton (Dan Sim 88)
Elliott Evans (James Cairns 46)
Alex Jones
Macauley Taylor
Oli Buckley (Aaron White 46)
Adam Hold
Miles Todd
HAWARDEN RANGERS
Joseph O’Connor
Rhys Hewitt
Joshua Edwards
Daniel Flanders
Louis Anglesea
Joshua Davies (Andrew Watkin 85)
Ellis Jones (Connor Parry 90+1)
Paul Lindfield (George Savage 90+1)
Aaron North (Tom Gunson 70)
Joshua Robertson (Steve Chiocchi 85)
James Ratcliffe