Ardal North West: Llay are weekend’s big winners as Mountain tumble at Hotspur
The 2023-24 Lock Stock Ardal North West title battle looks set to end up a two-horse race between Flint Mountain and Llay Welfare.
Although they lost 1-0 at Holyhead Hotspur on Saturday, Mountain still top the table with 59 points from 26 games, with a goal difference of + 39.
Up into second spot are Welfare, with 57 points from 25 matches and a + 34 GD.
Mountain has four fixtures left and Welfare five – and they still have to play each other!
Here are their respective run-ins:
FLINT MOUNTAIN: Played 26 Points 59 (GD + 39)
May 1: Llay Welfare (h)
May 4: CPD Pwllheli (h)
May 11: CPD Y Felinheli (a)
May 25: CPD Llannefydd (a)
LLAY WELFARE: Played 25 Points 57 (GD + 34)
May 1: Flint Mountain (h)
May 4: St Asaph City (a)
May 11: CPD Llannefydd (h)
May 15: St Asaph City (h)
May 18: Bethesda Athletic (h)
Flint Mountain also have the distraction of two cup competitions on their roster.
They are away to Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant in the Ardal North League Cup semi-final on May 18 and have reached the NEWFA Challenge Cup Final, where either Gresford Athletic or Mold Alexandra will be the opponents.
As for the league, Mountain have two home and two away games left, while Llay’s schedule involves four matches at The Ring and just one on their travels.
The clash between the leading pair at Llay this Wednesday, May 1, will be a true six-pointer, the outcome of which might go a long way towards deciding who finishes up champions.
Third-place CPD Y Rhyl 1879, Holyhead Hotspur and Nantlle Vale could still mathematically pass Welfare and Mountain, but the likelihood of that happening is extremely remote.
A top-two finish is crucial, as while the champions are promoted, if they achieve Tier 2 licence status, the runners-up can also go up if they win the promotion play-off versus their Ardal North East equivalents – again provided they get the necessary licence.
Saturday’s action was thrilling at both ends of the table.
LATEST STANDINGS
LOCK STOCK ARDAL NORTH WEST
Holyhead Hotspur 1 Flint Mountain 0
It is fair to say that if Holyhead Hotspur had started their magnificent run of form which began in January just a month earlier, they would be title contenders now for sure.
On Saturday, Darren Garmey’s side made it 15 league matches undefeated and eight wins on the bounce by stunning leaders Flint Mountain at the New Stadium.
The game looked to be heading for a 0-0 draw until a goal worthy of winning any top of the table clash decided it on 89 minutes.
Jamie Pick’s knock down to the edge of the box found Kenleigh Owen, who curled the ball into the top-right corner with a magnificent strike.
Typical of the former Oldham Athletic trainee who has specialised in spectacular goals during his many seasons as a Hotspur left-midfielder.
Despite their first loss in five league outings, Mountain remain top of the table, but are now just two points ahead of second-place Llay Welfare, who have a game in hand.
Conwy Borough 3 CPD Y Rhyl 1879 0
Rhyl missed a chance to return to the summit when they crashed miserably at Y Morfa to a Conwy side which had not won in the league in five matches.
The Lilywhites have now slipped out of the top-two and their chances of a promotion play-off slot are all but gone.
Adam Hold, who was a Rhyl player at the start of this season, haunted his former club by giving Boro a 10th minute lead via a Harry Massey assist.
Dan Evans made it two on 17 minutes, Toby Jones setting him up.
Jones added a third for the Tangerines six minutes into the second half, Evans this time performing the assist duties.
With Conwy keeper Calum McKerlie in great form, the hosts defended extremely well and always threatened on the break.
This has to rank as one of their best displays of the season and surely it was one of Rhyl’s worst – just at the wrong time.
CPD Y Felinheli 0 Llay Welfare 4
A magnificent performance from a Llay side which edged up to second spot after making it 13 league games unbeaten and seven victories in a row.
Mike Gadie and Steven Halliwell’s side were different class.
Jon Collo gave them a 24th minute lead from the penalty spot and doubled his team’s total on 33 from a Scott Swords assist.
An Ifan Emyr own goal with 62 on the clock put Llay three to the good and sub Tomos Williams rounded things off with number four after 66.
The defeat sent Felinheli back into the bottom two and still very much in a relegation battle.
Llangefni Town 1 Hawarden Rangers 2
Just when they needed it most, Hawarden picked up the surprise victory which lifted them out of the bottom two places.
Llangefni led 1-0 at half time through Osian Jones, but in the 57th minute, a Tyler Jones own goal levelled the match.
In the 79th minute Daniel Flanders knocked in the winning goal which boosted Rangers’ hopes of escaping the drop.
CPD Llannefydd 3 Brickfield Rangers 0
Goals from Sam Jones, David Lawson-Cooke and Lewys Turner earned Llannefydd the win which lifted them into seventh place.
Sam Jones also missed a penalty for the hosts.
Llanrwst United 3 St Asaph City 1
What a day for Llanrwst – their first league win in 12 attempts.
The Rwsters had not previously been victorious in the Ardal North West since defeating Saltney Town 3-1 at Parc Gwydir on January 13.
The best they had managed since then were four draws, but today they were too good for a visiting team led by former United boss Barry Owen.
Chris Nicolson (2) and Conor Davies guided Llanrwst to victory, Jake Walker with a consolation reply for Saints.
Saltney Town 0 Bethesda Athletic 2
Daniel Hughes struck on 73 and 75 minutes to bank 10-man Bethesda their third league win in four starts.
Hughes is now on 12 goals for the campaign, 10 of them in the league.
Athletic got past the challenge of the bottom side despite having Cian Williams red carded on 64 minutes with the score at 0-0.