More than 1,000 fans see Holyhead Hotspur topple Trearddur Bay in island derby

ARDAL NORTH WEST – JULY 31, 2024

Holyhead Hotspur 2 (Summers-Jones 73, K Roberts 90+3)
Trearddur Bay 0

A tremendous crowd of 1,021 were at the New Stadium to see Holyhead Hotspur bring an end to one of the longest unbeaten records in North Wales football history.

Since rebranding at the start of 2022-23 to become Trearddur Bay FC, the Lon Isallt club had won back-to-back titles in Tier 4 and 5 and gone 54 league games undefeated (49 wins, 5 draws).

However, their first assignment in Tier 3 with a new-look team was a very tough one away to a strong Holyhead side who deservedly took the points on the night.

The first half was a tight affair with both teams looking to get a foothold in the game.

The first big chance came just before half time where Hotspur’s Tomi Llewelyn looked certain to tap in at the back post only for Paul Pritchard to scramble across his line and make an unbelievable save with his feet.

Holyhead started the second half with more purpose and were denied a penalty when a Bay defender appeared to stop the ball crossing the line with his hand, but the referee waved play on.

Chances then started to come for the home side and it was Dylan Summers Jones who picked up where he left off last season, springing the offside trap to round the rushing goalkeeper and finishing from a tight angle with 73 on the clock.

Kane Roberts then went close after a neat turn in the box, his effort crashing against the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten.

Then, with the away side committing players forward, it was a counter attack that secured the win in added time after a great pass from Jack Walsh found Llywelyn, whose cross was inch perfect for Kane Roberts to head home.

Hotspur manager Darren Garmey said: “We are happy with the win, there was a lot of build up to the game but I think our lads stuck to the game plan and trusted in what we are good at.

“The support was brilliant tonight with over 1000 through the gate, so we are happy we sent our fans all home happy.”

TEAMS

Holyhead Hotspur

Guto Hughes
James Phillips
Cai Parry
Tomos Owen
Alex Jones (c)
Ifan Emlyn Jones
Tomi Llywelyn (Aron Hughes-Jones 90+4)
Jack Walsh
Kane Roberts (Shay Murphy 90+3)
Dylan Summers-Jones
Kyle Murphy (Mitchell Jones 62)

Trearddur Bay

Paul Pritchard
Dan McGinness
Sion Edwards (Sol Williams 82)
Dion Donohue (c)
Anthony Marshall
Richard Jones (Casey Gregg 82)
Dewi Thomas (Sean McCaffery 59)
Asa Thomas
Toby Jones
Kaine Bentley (Matty Jones 59)
Les Davies

ATTENDANCE: 1,021
REFEREE: Craig Griffiths