Cymru North: Winning start for new Ruthin boss Dave Evans, Chirk pegged back in a thriller

JD CYMRU NORTH

Monday, March 25

Llanidloes Town 1 Ruthin Town 3

Report: Alan Stubbs (Cymru Sport)

Dave Evans’ first game in charge of Ruthin ended in victory at KVM Park in Llanidloes on a chilly Monday evening.

The pitch survived an afternoon inspection to look in good condition after all the rain in Mid Wales.

An even start came alive when Ruthin, always dangerous on the left via Joel Giblin and Jake Hughes-Hampson, saw the latter put in a superb ball in for Sam Jones, whose bullet header brought a world-class save out of impressive goalkeeper Luke Evans.

In the 25th minute Llanidloes had a corner taken by Nyasha Mwamuka to the back post where full back Giblin headed off the line.

What a important clearance that was going to be in the context of the game as Ruthin attacking full back Giblin went up the other end and scored after 27 minutes with a low drive.

Both teams were flying in with tackles and it was no surprise in the 41st minute when the pace of livewire striker Llyr Morris saw him get a yard in front of the defender and was brought down.

Straight away referee Aled Williams pointed to the spot. Up stepped Hughes-Hampson who blasted the penalty down the middle.

Credit to Llanidloes, heads didn’t go down and they kept on fighting, getting their reward just before half time when a long ball down the middle brought chaos in the Ruthin defence, leading to a penalty which Elliot Jones put away.

Half time Llanidloes Town 1 Ruthin Town 2

The start of second half resembled the first, both teams battling in the middle but with playmaker Gwion Owen pulling the strings spreading play to either wings.

Equally Llanidloes playmaker Rhys Evans was putting in some impressive crosses in for Elliot Jones. Both Edward Clarke and George Clarke forced saves from goalkeeper Dan Goldston.

In the 76th minute came the decisive moment in the match. With Llanidloes pressing for the equaliser, on the counter Ruthin produced the move of the game, a crisp, one-touch four-man attack leaving Harry Martin in the penalty area to drive beyond Evans into the bottom corner.

Ruthin managed the game to full time, bringing three youngsters on for first team experience.

A great night all round for Ruthin, three points for the new boss, who replaced Phil Hudson last week after a spell as his assistant, and giving potential future stars of the club an airing.

Chirk AAA 2 Caersws 2

Report: Nigel Roberts

A minute’s silence was impeccably observed prior to the game in respect to former Chirk AAA supporter and committee member Monica Price who sadly passed last week.

Chirk started strongly and on three minutes took a deserved lead through Louie Middlehurst.

Leading scorer Max Mclaughlin increased the Colliers’ lead on 11 minutes with a clinical finish.

Caersws got their bearings and put the Chirk defence under pressure with both George Mitten and Harry Cottam spurning good chances in the first half.

Sws started the second period on the front foot but it was Chirk who created the best opening when McLaughlin shot tamely at Jack Perry in the away goal.

Caersws pulled one back on 71 minutes when Callum Francis-Jones shot home from close range after Jack Edwards had parried a Sam Phillips cross.

The Bluebirds levelled things up on 85 minutes when Francis-Jones was on hand again to take advantage of a Chirk mix up.

It was a frantic closing five minutes with both sides going for the win but it ended 2-2.

The point pulled Chirk off the bottom of the league to move above Llanidloes who they play on Good Friday with a 2.30pm kick off at Victoria Park..

Easter Monday the Colliers entertain Porthmadog again with a 2.30 kick off.

Guilsfield 4 Denbigh Town 1

Report: Ollie Beech

After three successive league defeats, Denbigh Town need a tonic when they face Bangor 1876 at home on Thursday night (March 28).

Saturday’s trip to Latham Park was highly disappointing for Dewi Llion’s side, who remain sixth in the Cymru North table.

Carved open twice in the first period, Town allowed two further second-half goals before Dion Gibbins grabbed a late consolation to open his account for the club.

The game was summed up for the visitors when Nathan Brown’s poor penalty was saved in stoppage time.

Iwan Matthews missed a great early chance for Guls before two minutes later Denbigh’s Owen Davies was scythed down in the box, but referee Arthur Smallman blew for simulation and booked the forward.

Guilsfield took the lead on 16 minutes when a low cross from Reece Warder found Matthews to tap home.

Six minutes before the break, the Powys hosts doubled their advantage. Callum Bromley’s delivery from the right found the head of top marksman Matthews – 2-0 half time.

Town had to start the second half strong and early on did carve out chances. Brown struck the crossbar and Josh Lock saw an effort fly wide.

Denbigh came close to getting back in it but with chances coming and going they suddenly found themselves down by three.

As Town continued the pressure in Guilsfield’s final third a sudden break from the home side found Joe Haycock, who darted forward before blasting home.

With 19 to play Guils had the fourth, Warder this time finishing after an initial stop from Jones.

On 81 minutes Denbigh got themselves on the scoresheet, as Gibbins finished in the box through a crowd of bodies after Brown’s cross.

Brown had a chance to make it 4-2, but his tame penalty was saved by Robbie Williams.

Mold Alexandra 1 Gresford Athletic 0

Captain Rhys Nash’s 56th minute goal was sufficient for fourth-place Mold to edn a run of three league games without a win by narrowly beating Gresford.

In a hard-fought encounter of few clear-cut chances at Alyn Park, Eddie Maurice-Jones’ travelling side could feel somewhat disappointed not to come away with a point.

Charlie Mann created the first Athletic chance in the seventh minute, dribbling well with the ball and putting in a good cross, but Jack Roberts’ effort went over the crossbar.

In the 29th minute, Joe Chaplin did brilliantly to pick up the ball and play it to Mann, who hit it towards goal, but the Alex defence blocked well.

Mold had opportunities too, Nathan Williams called upon to put in a fantastic sliding tackle to deny a dangerous home attack.

The hosts took the lead 11 minutes into the second stanza when Nash pounced after a goalmouth scramble following a corner.

Alex defended well and held onto their 1-0 lead for the rest of the half, with Gresford unable to find a way through to grab an equalising goal.