CATCH-UP – JD Cymru North: Llandudno grab dramatic late victory at Prestatyn
JD CYMRU NORTH – JANUARY 9, 2024
Prestatyn Town 2 (Burke 2, Hilditch 13)
Llandudno 3 (Holland pen 50, Knight 65, Boss 90+1)
Llandudno manager Jordan Hadaway said after Saturday’s last-minute loss to Mold that a quick turnaround of fixture can often be a big plus.
And so it proved as Tudno wiped out the memory of that 2-1 weekend defeat with a dramatic late show three days later to edge past Prestatyn Town.
Dramatic comebacks and late deciders have been a hallmark of the Seasiders’ recent revival and they displayed great staying power once more at Bastion Gardens on Tuesday.
On Saturday they had been pipped at the post by an added time Mold winner, but the beauty of football is it can often throw up an almost instant opportunity to put your wrongs right.
Tuesday’s visit to Prestatyn offered that chance of immediate redemption, and despite trailing 2-0 at the break, Llandudno turned the tables to pick up another vital three points.
Having suffered the blow of losing star attacker Dan Atkins to Colwyn Bay a few days earlier, the hosts had to pick themselves up quickly and made a perfect start when Dylan Dunne set up Michael Burke to smash the ball home in just the second minute.
Prestatyn went two-up on 13 minutes when a counter-attack led to Tom Hilditch applying a composed finish.
It could have been more for Town before half-time arrived with a 2-0 scoreline.
Llandudno needed an early goal in the second half to revive their hopes and they got it on 50 minutes when Danny Holland converted a penalty.
In the 65th minute it was two-apiece when substitute Theo Knight netted his first goal for the club.
Both sides had chances thereafter, Prestatyn threatening from a goalmouth scramble which saw young Tudno keeper Tom Guinn bravely emerge with the ball.
Stoppage time arrived and it looked set for a draw until Alex Boss popped up with a magical winner.
Llandudno are making a habit of this – keeping going till the bitter end and grabbing last-ditch victories.
This sort of spirit will keep climbing them up the Cymru North table.