Bellevue come out on top in basement battle and record first league win for four seasons

NORTH EAST WALES LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION – JANUARY 27, 2024

Skippy 3 (David Hughes 15, 48, Lewis Irvine OG 45)
Bellevue 6 (João Da Silva 58, 61, 90+11, James Greenshields 14 & 52, Peter Jones 90+3 OG)

With a combined 30 defeats and not a single draw or victory between them this season, SOMETHING positive had to happen when the bottom two teams in the North East Wales League Championship Division met on Saturday.

Either Bellevue or Skippy had to pick up a first victory of 2023-24 – or the Wrexham-based pair would draw and earn a point apiece.

As it turned out, Bellevue triumphed 6-3 at Bronwens Green to claim their first league win in four seasons – and only their third ever.

Since joining the North East Wales League in 2017-18, the popular multicultural club had previously recorded just two victories, both in 2018-19.

They also beat Brymbo Lodge 4-2 in 2021-22, but after their opponents pulled out of the league before the end of the campaign, Bellevue lost that win off their slate.

Bellevue’s last official league success came on August 29, 2018 – a 4-3 result against Bradley Park.

They had not registered a league win in 79 attempts – until Saturday, January 27, 2024.

Not only is 6-3 a record league victory for Bellevue, it also raised their hopes of avoiding finishing bottom of the table for a first time.

Despite their lack of wins over the years, this team has given opportunities to numerous players from different backgrounds to enjoy a game of football, have always fulfilled their fixtures and never given up when many clubs with much better statistics have called it a day.

Skippy only formed this season and have found the going very tough so far, but like Bellevue, they keep trying and that elusive first win will hopefully come their way in the near future.

Bellevue opened the scoring after JJ Greenshields was fouled on the left. Captain Jordan Boyd sent the free kick deep into the box where it was met by João da Silva in the 5th minute.

Greenshields added a second less than 10 minutes later. Nathan Taylor played the ball in behind the defence to put Greenshields into a foot race with the defence, he broke clear and into the box before calmly slotting past the keeper.

Straight from the resulting kick off, Skippy replied. Liam Jones played into David Hughes, who had quick feet to find himself a yard of space inside the box. With his quality, a yard was all the visiting striker needed to get his shot away and beat the keeper.

Skippy were on top towards the end of the first half with a few good chances, and well into stoppage time they finally got a second.

A free kick in the centre of goal rattled the crossbar and dropped behind the keeper. Lewis Irvine was unable to gather the ball and could only watch as it squirmed over the line from under him.

Skippy came out strong in the second half and a mistake in the Bellevue defence under pressure gifted another opportunity as Jason Ratcliffe played in David Hughes for his second goal which he took well leaving Irvine no chance of saving.

Bellevue responded quickly and within 5 minutes, da Silva was able to find Greenshields unmarked on the left. JJ was able to drive into the box and finish well to level the scores again.

Around 10 minutes later they reversed roles as Greenshields crossed into the box and da Silva got his second, neatly finishing at the front post.

Bellevue made changes in the midfield and the game was into overtime when pressure from one of their substitutes, Oghenekome Akpomeza, led to him winning the ball high up the pitch. Again Greenshields was driving up the left and Akpomeza found his run.

Greenshields again sent a cross into the box looking for da Silva or Sumner, but it was Skippy’s Peter Jones who stretched to stop the cross. He had to make the block, but unfortunately was only able to loop the ball around his own keeper to put Bellevue 5-3 up.

João da Silva finally completed his hat-trick well into stoppage time again as Anthony Davies played a ball in behind the defence which the Portuguese ace was able to run onto.

The keeper came off his line to close down the shot, but da Silva deftly rounded the glovesman before driving into an empty net.

It was Senor da Silva’s 48th goal for Bellevue in all competitions – making him comfortably the club’s top-scorer.

CPD BELLEVUE LEAGUE RECORD

2017-18
P 26 W 0 D 1 L 25 GF 15 GA 278
2018-19
P 20 W 2 D 0 L 18 GF 29 GA 102
2019-20
P 16 W 0 D 0 L 16 GF 12 GA 173
2021-22
North East Wales Football League Championship
P 14 W 0 D 1 L 13 GF 17 GA 108
2022-23
Championship
P 20 W 0 D 1 L 19 GF 17 GA 174
2023-24
Championship
P 16 W 1 D 0 L 15 GF 18 GA 152

OVERALL LEAGUE RECORD

PLAYED 112 WON 3 DRAWN 3 LOST 106 GOALS FOR 108 GOALS AGAINST 987

TOP GOALSCORER (ALL COMPETITIONS)

João da Silva 48

CPD BELLEVUE’S PREVIOUS WINS

2018-19

Bellevue 4 Bradley Park 3
Goals from Johnny Dagnall (2) and Joao Da Silva (2) sealed victory for BV in just their second ever match.
Borras Park Albion 2 Bellevue 5
Da Silva on target twice again, Ryan Jones, Adam Nassry and Gaz Whittaker one apiece.

2021-22

Bellevue 4 Brymbo Lodge 2 (RESULT VOID AS LODGE FOLDED)
Bellevue celebrated just their third league win in 81 matches since entering the North East Wales League in 2017-18.
IScorers for Bellevue: Leonardo Diogo 2, Joao De Silva, Robert Fay.