Ardal North West: Rhyl 1879 nine points clear, good wins for St Asaph and Hotspur

LOCK STOCK ARDAL NORTH WEST REPORTS – DECEMBER 9

CPD Y Rhyl 1879 1 (Cairns 24)
Bethesda Athletic 0

Report: Shôn Hughes

Gareth Thomas’ Rhyl side enjoy a nine-point lead at the Ardal North West summit following Saturday’s hard-earned win over Bethesda.

With many games postponed due to poor weather, full credit to home club chairman and groundsman Tom Jamieson for ensuring the Belle Vue pitch was playable.

In blustery conditions, the only clear-cut early opportunity fell to Lilywhites front man Kie Ellis, with visiting keeper Gethin Hughes saving well.

After 24 minutes the deadlock was broken.

Following some great work by ever-present Alex Jones, Rhyl’s November player of the month James Cairns slotted the ball home into the bottom-left corner.

On the stroke of half-time midfielder Ollie Staveley made a powerful run through the midfield heading towards the Bethesda goal only to be felled 30 yards out.

There was immediate concern from the home bench for Staveley due to the nature of the way he landed.

Staveley had to be replaced by Sion Williams as a trip to A&E was required for the stricken midfielder who picked up a shoulder injury. The first half came to an end with the home side ahead 1-0.

The second half offered very little in terms of final third opportunities.

The visitors began to gain a little bit of momentum on the counter-attack with home keeper Ryan Woods making a great save low to his right-hand side.

One final opportunity for the home side to increase their lead fell to Oli Buckley. Following great work on the right-hand side, the ball was crossed to Buckley only for his strike to be well saved by Hughes on the goal-line.

Manager Thomas said: “I’m delighted with the 3 points in tough conditions. It wasn’t the best game to watch, but the 3 points were the most important thing today.”

This Saturday, the Lilywhites welcome Welsh Cup quarter-finalists Flint Mountain to Belle Vue for a last 32 FAW Amateur Trophy tie, 2pm kick off.

CPD Y Rhyl 1879

Ryan Woods, James Jones; Casey Faulkner; Miles Todd; Reece Fairhurst (C); Oliver Staveley; Sam Ashton; Alex Jones; Oliver Buckley; Kieran Ellis; James Cairns. Subs: Macauley Taylor; Adam Hold; Meirion Wyn Pughe; Christopher Bennett; Sion Williams

Bethesda Athletic

Gethin Hughes, Osian Pugh; Steffan Davies; Osian Wyn Hughes (C); Robbie Jones; Bolaji Najeemdeen; Noa Hughes; Joseph Todd; Daniel Hughes; Scott Hughes; Kian Hughes;
Subs: Tyler Mapp; Adrian Roberts; Craig Jeffreys.

Holyhead Hotspur 2 CPD Llannefydd 0

Two superb second-half strikes from Kenleigh Owen booked three points for Hotspur at the New Stadium.

In atrocious conditions, the first half was pretty even with Holyhead defensively solid against the strong wind.

The second half saw the hosts more prominent in an attacking sense, but it took them until the 74th minute to break the deadlock.

It was worth the wait as the long-serving Owen sent a 20-yard free kick into the left-hand corner beyond keeper Dylan Jones.

Six minutes later it was that man again Owen who doubled the lead, collecting the ball 30 yards out and firing an absolute pile-driver past the keeper’s right.

Hotspur are now up to seventh and just three points off second place after a third successive victory.

St Asaph City 4 CPD Y Felinheli 2

Saints rose to second in the table after bouncing back from successive defeats to see off Felinheli at Roe Plas.

The visitors struck first on 19 minutes through Gruff John, but a James Williams double after 28 and 35, followed by a Jake Walker net-finder with 40 gone, made it 3-1 to the hosts at half time.

Morgan Williams cut the deficit to 3-2 with a 59th minute goal for the travellers, but Asaph sub Josh Brown added a home fourth with 75 on the clock.