Ardal NW – Rhyl 1879 edge 11 points clear, wins for Bethesda, Mountain, Conwy, Llannefydd & Hotspur

LOCK STOCK ARDAL NORTH WEST REPORTS – MARCH 2

CPD Y Rhyl 1879 1 Nantlle Vale 0

Match-winner Callum Parry could end up one of the signings of the season if Rhyl 1879 go on to win the Ardal North West title.

The 25-year-old, who joined the Lilywhites from Llanrwst United in January, has scored in three of his last four matches for 1879, including the decider in today’s clash of the high-flyers against Nantlle Vale at Belle Vue.

Parry is the league’s leading scorer with 16, his strike today ensuring Rhyl gained revenge over opponents who had won the last two meetings between the sides.

The goal-scorer was fantastic this afternoon, putting in a tremendous work-rate and applying a clinical finish after 40 minutes to settle the contest.

Rhyl dominated the game and the scoreline would have been far more emphatic in their favour but for the woodwork, which the hosts rattled three times, and the heroics of Vale keeper Oliver Rhys Jones, who was especially outstanding in the first half.

Winning manager Gareth Thomas said after the game: “We knew it would be a hard game; they’re (Nantlle) a very good side who deserved to beat us up there (in January).

“A clean sheet today, and we were defensively excellent.

“I think people will look at that (score) and say they’ve just scraped over the line if you weren’t here, but their keeper was absolutely ridiculous in the first half; pulling off three or four superb saves.

“We also hit the bar three times; we were on it.

“People have questioned these lads and rightly so as when we’ve put poor performances in we have been poor, but they’re doing the hard work people don’t see. They’re putting a lot of effort in for no reward, their reward today was three points on the pitch

“It’s another three points, we’ve got 10 games to go and we’ll take it game by game.”

Bethesda Athletic 4 Hawarden Rangers 0

After two unfortunate losses at high-riders St Asaph City and Flint Mountain, Bethesda Athletic picked up the big result they truly deserved today.

Mark N Hughes’ men lifted themselves out of the bottom three with a four-goal beating of fellow strugglers Hawarden Rangers.

On a great day all-round for Pesda, the Parc Meurig outfit saw the return to the starting line-up of left winger Kyle Hartleb after a lengthy lay-off through injury.

Athletic made the breakthrough on 17 minutes with a goal from Daniel Hughes via a Joe Todd assist.

Two minutes later, Shaun Lock helped set up Osian Hughes for goal number two.

Scott Hughes added a third close to the half-hour.

Daniel Hughes notched his second of the afternoon from a Scott Hughes assist three minutes into the second half.

Flint Mountain 1 CPD Y Felinheli 0

Andy Brown’s 33rd minute goal was sufficient for Mountain to make it a seventh successive league win which lifted them up to fourth.

Aden Shannon’s men were given a tough test, though, by next-to-bottom Felinheli, who defended really well and created enough chances to get something from the game.

Felin are without a league victory in five attempts, but more performances like today’s could yet save them from the drop.

Mountain are 14 points behind leaders Rhyl, but have six games in hand on the Lilywhites.

The Essity Stadium outfit could yet have a big say in the title race, but their fixtures backlog will test them to the limit.

MOUNTAIN’S SEVEN LEAGUE WINS IN A ROW
Mar 2: CPD Y Felinheli (home) 1-0
Feb 28: Hawarden Rangers (home) 4-2
Feb 10: Bethesda Athletic (home) 2-1
Jan 31: Brickfield Rangers (home) 4-1
Jan 27: Nantlle Vale (home) 1-0
Nov 4: Holyhead Hotspur (home) 4-1
Oct 7: Bethesda Athletic (away) 2-1

Holyhead Hotspur 8 Saltney Town 0

Red-hot Hotspur were on fire in front of goal today.

Alex Jones opened the scoring on 19 minutes from a Kenleigh Owen assist and Jack Walsh set up Dylan Summers-Jones for the second after 33.

The floodgates opened in the second half, Jay Norbury giving the hosts a helping hand with a 49th minute own goal.

Corey Williams notched number four on the hour, James Phillips setting him up.

Williams netted again after 74 – his 17th goal of the season – then sub Mitchell Jones brought up the half-dozen.

Other subs Deian Parry and Shay Murphy rounded off the rout with goals seven and eight at the New Stadium.

CPD Llannefydd 2 Llanrwst United 0

Morgan Jones edged Llannefydd in front from a sixth-minute penalty and captain Elgan Roberts added a decisive second goal with 55 on the clock.

CPD Pwllheli 2 Conwy Borough 3

Conwy Borough are much improved of late, while Pwllheli appear to be going in the opposite direction.

Boro made it back-to-back wins and three victories in their last four to establish healthy space between themselves and the bottom four, but Pwll lost for the third successive match after previously going six unbeaten.

Pwllheli led 2-0 at The Rec, Carl Jones and Steffan Toplis on target after 23 and 24 minute respectively, but Conwy launched a great comeback, recent signing Adam Hold hlaving the deficit before the break.

Anthony Marshall and Sean McCaffery scored on 59 and 69 to win the match for the Tangerines.

Having beaten Pwllheli 3-1 at home earlier this season, Boro completed the double over their opponents.