Ardal North West: Flint Mountain on title verge, Llanrwst stun Hotspur, vital win for Felinheli

LOCK STOCK ARDAL NORTH WEST REPORTS AND LATEST TABLE

Flint Mountain 3 Pwllheli 1

Mountain can make sure of the Ardal North West title with a single victory in one of their final two matches.

However, such is their superior goal difference over only remaining challengers Llay Welfare, one draw will probably be enough to ensure Aden Shannon’s men finish up champions.

Saturday saw Flint defeat Pwllheli 3-1 at the Essity Stadium.

The deadlock was broken on 27 minutes when Rob Hughes’ free kick evaded everyone and ended up in the net. It was Hughes’ eighth goal in six games and 16th of the season in all.

Pwllheli were certainly not lying down and pulled themselves level through a Gethin Trenholme goal just before the break.

However, seconds prior to the half-time whistle blowing, the hosts went 2-1 up. Jack Sconce’s great ball found Joe Holt in space and he knocked it past the goalkeeper.

Ten minutes into the second half, Mike Hayes made it 3-1 with his 20th league goal of the season and 28th in total.

Hughes latched onto a forward ball and played it across the box to Hayes, who controlled, rounded the keeper and tapped in.

That was the end of the scoring, but Pwllheli were reduced to 10 men on 78 minutes when Jamie Banks was shown a straight red for an off-the-ball incident.

Treble-chasing Mountain take on Mold Alexandra in the NEWFA Challenge Cup Final at the Memorial Playing Fields, Ruthin, on Friday, May 10, kick-off 7.30 pm.

They also have Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant to play in the Ardal North League Cup semi-final, as well as league matches at CPD Y Felinheli and CPD Llannefydd on May 22 and 25 respectively.

St Asaph City 2 Llay Welfare 1

Back-to-back defeats for Llay, whose title hopes suffered a big blow at Roe Plas.

Saints took control thanks to goals on 17 and 21 minutes from Jake Walker and Danny Clarke respectively.

Scott Swords pulled one back for the visitors in the 87th minute, but it was not enough to save them from defeat.

Llanrwst United 3 Holyhead Hotspur 1

New manager Leighton Griffiths would have been a happy man after his Llanrwst side inflicted a first loss in 16 matches on Holyhead.

Hotspur had won eight on the bounce in the ANW, but the Rwsters put in a fine display at Parc Gwydir to snatch the points.

Cian Evans handed United a fourth-minute lead from a Matt Mullender assist.

Dylan Summers-Jones missed a penalty for the visitors in first half added time, then nine minutes into the second period Ilan Davies made it 2-0.

Conor Davies added a third before Sion Phillips hit back for the Holy Islanders with 69 on the clock.

CPD Y Felinheli 2 CPD Llannefydd 0

Two goals in the closing minutes from Cal MacDonald and captain Aled Griffith earned a highly motivated Felinheli three crucial points in their battle against relegation.

MacDonald broke the stalemate on 87 minutes and Griffith struck on 90+1.

Saltney Town 0 Nantlle Vale 1

Captain Ashley Owen’s 20th league goal of the season and 22nd in all competitions on the hour was enough to seal the points for Vale at the Dragon Steel Stadium.

Brickfield Rangers 0 Llangefni Town 0

After five successive defeats Llangefni broke the depressing sequence with a scoreless draw at Clywedog Park.