JD Cymru North: Bangor 1876, Ruthin, Flint and Airbus begin 2024 with victories

JD CYMRU NORTH REPORTS – JANUARY 1, 2024

Bangor 1876 4 Porthmadog 1

Corrig McGonigle reached 20 goals for the season as the Cymru North leading scorer added another two to his haul in a New Year’s Day beating of Porthmadog.

Sixth-place 1876 completed a quick festive double over Port thanks to a strong second half performance in front of 637 at Nantporth.

Bangor took an eighth-minute lead when Cai Powell-Roberts showed neat footwork on the right as he broke into the box and went past several opponents. He played the ball across goal and the onrushing McGonigle turned it in from close range.

Within a minute, Rhys Alun Williams shot narrowly wide for the visitors.

Danny Brookwell then pulled an attempt off target from a tight angle.

The hosts threatened towards the end of the half, Alex Ward-Jones doing well to push away McGonigle’s goalbound header before the 1876 striker’s acrobatic effort was thwarted by the man in gloves.

In first half injury time, the hosts equalised against the run of play. Brookwell broke into the left side of the box and cut the ball back for Rhys Alun Williams to finish.

HALF-TIME: BANGOR 1876 1-1 PORTHMADOG

In the early stages of the second half, Brookwell had a chance for the visitors but fired wide after breaking into the left side of the penalty area.

Just before the hour mark, Bangor went close when Joe Sullivan curled the ball over Ward-Jones from the edge of the box but his shot struck the bar and rebounded to safety.

However, it wasn’t long before Bangor regained the advantage. Sam Jones controlled the ball well midway inside the Porthmadog half before striding forward and finding the net with a powerful low shot from 25 yards.

A couple of minutes later, McGonigle swung a corner kick to the back post and Tom Clarke scored with a downward header.

On 68 minutes it was 4-1. Joe Culshaw won the ball inside his own box before finding McGonigle with an excellent long pass. McGonigle showed his pace to beat his man and break into the box before splitting the ball past the Porthmadog goalkeeper.

Flint Town United 5 Llandudno 1

A game which stood 1-1 at half time saw Flint take command after the break to record a quick pair of 5-1 victories over Llandudno.

Lee Fowler’s side made it 15 league matches unbeaten and remain just a point behind Airbus with three games un hand.

Llandudno struck first through Fabrizio Murtas on 14 minutes, but the Silkmen were level after 34 through a Josh Jones penalty.

Jones struck again four minutes into the second half to edge the hosts in front.

Luis Lacey made it 3-1 on 51 and Elliott Reeves added another after 54 – three goals in five minutes for Flint.

Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro put the home side 5-1 up eight minutes from time.

Gresford Athletic 0 Airbus UK Broughton 3

James Davies’ second half pair made sure league leaders Airbus began 2024 on a winning note.

Joe Palmer’s seventh minute strike was all that separated the teams at the interval.

Davies then found the net on 61 and 67 minutes to bag the three points for the Wingmakers.

Ruthin Town 4 Denbigh Town 0

If Boxing Day belonged to Denbigh, then New Year’s Day was very much Ruthin’s property.

Sweet revenge for a 2-1 loss at Central Park on December 26 was exacted in emphatic fashion by the blues at the Memorial Playing Fields on the first day of 2024.

Goals from Llyr Morris, Soulayman El Amri and a Sam Jones brace secured the points for the home side.

Both sides showed intent early on with chances are either end.

Nathan Brown drove at goal, only for Dan Goldston to touch over. El Amri responded when he dispossessed Dan Parry-Jones, cut inside and forced Aaron Jones to save.

On 17 minutes Morris forced Jones into making a stop from an angle.

A minute later Ruthin had the lead. The resulting corner was swept in and after both sides dug in for the ball, it fell to Morris to knock home.

Just before the half-hour mark the lead was doubled. El Amri delivered from the right before Jones side-footed home from close range.

Half-Time: Ruthin Town 2-0 Denbigh Town

Early in the second half, Tom Weir tested Goldston in the home goal.

A minute before the hour mark and it was three, El Amri this time went from provider to goal scorer as he smashed the ball home.

With seven minutes to play the match was dead and buried, as Sam Jones finally had his second and Ruthin’s fourth with a simple finish.