Shock in Tier 4 as Corwen’s unbeaten league record ends at Coedpoeth’s hands

NORTH EAST WALES FOOTBALL LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION

Coedpoeth United 3 (Lloyd 50 & 57, Osinski 82)
Corwen 1 (Webster 83)

Report and photos: Gavin Billington

Quite a turn up at Stansty Park as Corwen’s long unbeaten league run this season ended in their 15th match.

Upset merchants Coedpoeth United did the damage, following up their surprise victory at high-flying Connah’s Quay Town seven days earlier by quashing the leaders’ undefeated record.

While Corwen are still seven points clear in top spot with games in hand on all challengers, it was still a disappointing result for Jamie Hulse’s men against a Coedy outfit which lifted themselves out of the bottom two.

Having whipped Coedpoeth 6-0 at home earlier in the season, Corwen must have been fairly confident approaching the return, but the tables were dramatically turned.

Scott Evans lashed a free-kick narrowly over the bar for the visitors before Robbie Williams got through on goal, but the ball got stuck under his feet, preventing him from getting a shot away.

With seven minutes gone, Corwen won the ball back from a Coedpoeth corner, sparking a counter attack from which Owen Cordiner lined up a shot, which he hit straight at goalkeeper Callum Thurnham.

In the closing stages of the half it looked as if Corwen were going to go in front, as Cordiner got through, forcing Thurnham to come rushing off his line, but a great last-ditch tackle from Osian Owen prevented the shot coming in.

Half-time: 0-0

Early in the second half Corwen’s failure to turn their dominance into a lead came back to haunt them.

On 50 minutes, a Coedpoeth throw in was knocked on by Oliver Lewis into the path of Adam Lloyd, who headed into the top corner of the net.

The visitors rallied, Robbie Williams bearing down on goal only for Thurnham to come rushing out to win the ball.

In the 66th minute, Corwen gave the ball away trying to play out from the back, allowing Adam Lloyd to go around the keeper and slot home his second goal of the afternoon.

The away side tried to hit back from a Robbie Williams corner, which was whipped into the penalty box, where the ball was headed onto the crossbar and a low shot from the rebound went wide.

Lloyd had a chance of a hat-trick when he slid in search of the ball, but could not stretch out far enough to make contact.

Corwen assistant-manager Adam Galdo was red-carded in the 79th minute.

With 82 on the clock, Eryk Osinski hit an angled shot into the far corner of the net to make it 3-0 Coedpoeth.

From the kick off, Corwen’s Alex Webster bravely stooped to head home a consolation for the table-toppers.

There was no further score, so Corwen not only lost their unbeaten league record, but also suffered an end to their 100% success rate in away matches.