Development Leagues: East top pair both win, West title hopefuls Llanrug hit seven

NWCFA DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE EAST – REPORTS FEBRUARY 4

Penmaenmawr Phoenix and Kinmel Bay share the leadership of the East league with the same number of games played and identical points totals.

It promises to be a title race to savour.

Kinmel Bay Development 5 Llysfaen Development 2

With Bay coming off the back of a defeat and Llysfaen not playing since late November after having their last five games called off, both teams were eager to make a bright start at Y Morfa on Sunday.

It took 22 minutes for the deadlock to be broken. A Bay throw-in was taken quickly by Tyler Oakley-Evans to Harry Woodfine who turned his defender on the left side edge of the box and fired into the back of the net from the angle.

Llysfaen were level six minutes later through Harry Davies, who took advantage of a defensive mix up and calmly slotted past the keeper.

Both teams had chances leading up to the next goal which came just before half time. A Jacob Jones corner was flicked up at the near post by Woodfine and George Meredith got his head on the end of it.

HT Bay 2-1 Llysfaen

Llysfaen started the second half by piling pressure on the Bay defence but on 59 minutes Jacob Jones went on one of his trademark runs down the left and cut inside onto his right foot, firing the ball low past the keeper to put the hosts 3-1 ahead.

Five minutes later Bay went 4-1 up, captain Mark Hughes grabbing the assist for Meredith’s second of the game, both goals coming with his head.

On 69 minutes James Fallas pulled one back for the visitors, but Kinmel bagged their fifth in the 90th minute to seal the win.

Substitute Oli Gray crossed low for fellow replacement Danny McAdam to finish on his debut for the club.

NFA Development 1 Penmaenmawr Phoenix Development 3

Phoenix arrived at Rhyl in good form having beaten fellow league toppers Kinmel Bay and Y Glannau recently.

With 10 of the starting 11 aged 20 or younger it was a very youthful squad which took on NFA .

Playing against the strong wind in the first half, Phoenix were awarded a second-minute penalty after Corey Lundstram was brought down, but young keeper Luke McGunness produced a great save to deny Morgan Roberts.

NFA earned a penalty of their own on 35 minutes, but Iolo Brown saved superbly to keep it at 1-0.

For disputing the spot-kick award, Phoenix players Aaron Hooper and Morgan Roberts were red-carded.

With 10 minutes of the half left, nine-man Pen had to defend and get into the changing rooms at the break for a regroup.

Manager Adam Jones made some tactical changes and told his players they were going to have to dig deep for 45 minutes to get a result.

Credit to the visitors they came out for the second half and chased and closed down every ball.

In the 51st minute Pen were awarded a free kick 35 yards out. Up stepped captain Logan Williams who put his laces through it and watched the ball sail over the NFA keeper’s head to break the deadlock.

On the hour, Williams repeated the trick with another free-kick stunner from 40 yards out – 2-0.

Manager Jones made some changes, off came youngsters Harvey Roberts and Harry Jones who had ran themselves into the ground to be replaced by Cody Williams and Tommy Harrison.

Pen continued to dominate and Dani Mcilvogue was fouled on the edge of the box, but the ref allowed play to continue and Harrison slotted into the bottom corner.

Phoenix began to tire after their efforts and in the 78th minute NFA were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box which Ryan Roberts put into the bottom corner .

For the remaining 12 minutes Pen kept possession and ran the clock down coming out 3-1 winners . A great weekend for the Phoenix with the future looking bright.

CPD Y Glannau Development 1 Bow Reserves 1

Honours ended even in a game played on a difficult pitch at Betws-yn-Rhos.

Josh Formston put Bow ahead on 31 minutes from a Richard Hill assist, but soon after Glannau’s outstanding Shane Evans equalised when he managed to catch keeper Lee Sheldon out with a long free kick deep in his own half, wind-assisted.

Bow had numerous chances to win it, Barry Roche firing one opportunity straight at keeper Hayden Nicholls when well-positioned.

Danny Gizzi was man of the match for Bow, while 16 year old Jenson Wold really impressed on debut.

NWCFA DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE WEST

Bontnewydd Development 1 CPD Nefyn United – tim datblygu 1

Calum Hayden put Nefyn ahead five minutes into the second half, but Meurig Parry rescued a point for Bont with a penalty deep into stoppage time.

CPD Gaerwen Development 1 Llanrug United Reserves 7

Big win for second-place Llanrug, Berian Llwyd leading the charge with a hat-trick.

Robin Whiteside Thomas, Ethan Kiernan, Guto Whiteside Thomas and Owen Roden added one apiece, Ceian Roberts replying for Gaerwen.