Y Glannau are looking increasingly like possible title contenders
NORTH WALES COAST EAST LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Llandudno Amateurs 2 (Chapman 20, J Jones 52)
CPD Y Glannau 3 (H Bellis 7, Stanley 47 & 78)
Y Glannau are fast changing from one of those ‘very good teams but not quite league champion potential’ into ‘definite title contenders’.
The St Asaph based club have always competed well in any division they have played in, but this season they have upped a significant gear.
A typical example of this came on Saturday as they beat North Wales Coast East Division One leaders Llandudno Amateurs on away territory.
It was a fifth league win on the bounce and seventh in eight starts for Christian Fontana’s side, now third in the table and six points behind the Amateurs with two games in hand.
Y Glannau made a very positive start at The Oval and opened the scoring inside the first 10 minutes. After some great play by Luke Stanley down the left, he cut in and his delivery was headed home by Harrison Bellis for his 43rd goal of the season.
It was the dream start in a game the visitors really had to win to close in on Llandudno.
However, the hosts are not top for nothing and grew into the match. Joe Jones rippled the side-netting before Azz Rogers went close from the edge of the box.
Llandudno did equalise via a neat finish from Mike Chapman after Rogers had fed him in.
The final 15 minutes of the half were very evenly matched. Stanley went on a great run, veered in from the right and his strike from the edge of the box whizzed straight at keeper Kyle King.
Glannau defender Tawse Cox was having a great game, playing an important role in stopping Llandudno attacks, and he also released Bellis late in the half with a lovely ball through, the resulting shot yielding no more than a corner.
Half-time: 1-1
Glannau began the second half as they had the first, King denying Kyle Hedge twice in a matter of seconds after a Josh MacGillivray free kick caused chaos in the Llandudno box.
It became 2-1 to the travellers from the next attack on 47 minutes. Ash Bamber found Stanley on the right, he cut in and hit his strike nice and low,
It looked like it was going to be a routine save for the Llandudno keeper, but the ball went underneath his body and into the back of the net.
Glannau were enjoying a great spell until Joe Jones was played in over the top, broke away and was brought down by Chris McQuillen.
The ref was some distance away and took his time before making his decision, eventually showing McQuillen a straight red card. To make matters worse for the visitors, Joe Jones smashed home the following free kick to make it two-apiece.
A game Y Glannau were on top in was now huge advantage Llandudno.
However, credit to the Glannau management as they got the tactics absolutely spot on in that last 30 minutes. Applause for the players too as everyone put in a shift.
Llandudno dominated the next 15 minutes but could not find the net, Brad Wright pulling off a huge save from close range.
After defending well Glannau broke away. Bellis applied pressure on the back line and forced the keeper into making a rash decision as he played a ball straight to Stanley, who then ran through to make it 2-3.
It was Stanley’s 12th goal in 13 matches since he joined the team and he is certainly proving a more than useful partner in attack for the prolific Bellis.
Llandudno put ball after ball in as they sought the equaliser, but the visitors defended superbly with keeper Wright making a sensational late stop.
LLANDUDNO AMATEURS
Kyle King
Ryan Williams
Joe Jones (c)
Azz Rogers
Geraint Thomas
David Williams
Mike Chapman
Evan Hince
Morgan Davies
Jordan Tidswell
N/A
SUBS USED
Mark Kelly, Lee Savings
Y GLANNAU
Brad Wright
Kyle Hedge
Tawse Cox
Jake Reddaway
Harrison Bellis
Joey Fontana (c)
Osian Williams
Jared Hughes
Luke Stanley
Ashley Bamber
Chris McQuillen
SUBS USED
Michael Bellis, Aaron Dodwell, Josh MacGillivray, Richard Paskett, Thomas Jones
Betws-y-Coed 1 Glan Conwy 5
Second-place Glan Conwy romped to an impressive victory at the OPS Wind Arena on Saturday evening.
Luke Snape bagged a double to move up to nine league goals for the season, while 18-year-old David Hansom added another to his collection to make it 16 in all competitions in 2023-24.
Glan struggled to get going in the first half against a very determined Betws outfit.
However, the visitors took an 11th minute lead when Cynan Edwards received the ball on the edge of the 18-yard box and hit low and hard to the left of the keeper
Glan were unable to add to their total and Betws equalised with a wonderful goal on 31 minutes, but the scorer was unfortunately not identified on the Cymru Football App.
In the second half, the visitors started passing the ball better and it was not long before they scored again through Snape.
Changes were made and Glan’s football became more fluent.
Ollie Carey scored a great penalty to take it to 3-1 before up stepped Hansom to add a fourth.
Betws keeper Martin King was in outstanding form, producing a trio of great stops to deny Joel Morgan Jones a hat-trick.
However, Snape struck again before the end.
Betws manager Paul Maxwell was red-carded on 80 minutes.