Ardal North West: Five-nil for dazzling Rhyl!
ARDAL NORTH WEST – FEBRUARY 3
Saltney Town 0
CPD Y Rhyl 1879 5 (Parry 9, Sim 37, Craven 57, Williams 75, Taylor 90+1)
Report: Shôn Hughes
Back to their ruthless best – Rhyl 1879 finished the weekend nine points clear at the Ardal North West summit after their biggest away win of the season.
New signings Leigh Craven (from Conwy Borough), James Hay (Abergele) and Kieran Baker (Tranmere Rovers) all featured in the match day squad.
Craven made the starting 11, while Callum Parry would return to head the attack. Both made the scoresheet.
In the ninth minute league top scorer Parry netted his first for the Lilywhites and 14th of the season.
A wonderful through ball by captain Reece Fairhurst gave ex-Llanrwst United star Parry the opportunity and he took it.
Rhyl went two-up when a long ball to the right by Sion Williams was kept alive by Chris Bennett, who was able to find Dan Sim and he slotted in his fourth of the season from close range.
Leading 2-0 at the break, there was no let up from the Lilywhites in the second half.
The dominance in midfield of Craven and the power of Parry up front ensured chance after chance for the travellers.
In the 57th minute, Craven bent a free kick to the opposite side of the goal to where keeper Niall Collings was standing to make it 3-0.
The fourth Lilywhites goal would come in the 75th minute. Sam Ashton spotted Sion Williams in space on the left and he was able to pick his way through the crowded box and put the game well beyond the home side’s reach with a finish into the top corner.
Williams would make way for Baker, the newly-signed 18-year-old defender embarking on his debut for Rhyl.
A real coup for manager Gareth Thomas, with several high profile North Wales clubs showing interest in the youngster, but it would be Belle Vue where he would decide to make his new home following a move from League 2 side Tranmere Rovers.
Two fan favourites completed the changes on 83 minutes, Ashton and Meirion Pughe replaced by Miles Todd and Jonny Taylor respectively.
The latter would not take too long to mark his return following a lengthy time out with injury. In true Taylor fashion he would get on the score sheet late on with a bullet header from a Bennett cross.
As 5-0 victories go, this was special for Rhyl. To a man all the players were excellent, and having not had the best January this meant a lot to the team.