Match of the Day – Holyhead Hotspur end Rhyl 1879’s perfect record

Ardal North West

Holyhead Hotspur 2 (Summers-Jones 57 and 75 pen)
CPD Y Rhyl 1879 0

One of the first true clashes of heavyweights in the 2024-25 Ardal North West season went the way of an impressive Holyhead Hotspur.

Dylan Summers-Jones, a 23-goal star for Darren Garmey’s side last term, netted twice at the New Stadium on Saturday to ensure the Holy Islanders made it three wins out of four in the league.

CPD Y Rhyl 1879 arrived with a 100 percent record of three straight wins, but it was not to be their day at Holyhead.

The visitors started the game brightly forcing an early flurry of corners with the wind at their backs.

That’s where their best chance of the half came with an Alex Jones header cleared off the line.

Hotspur then settled into the game and were compact in their shape while posing a real threat on the break with the pace of Summers Jones causing problems to the Rhyl back-line.

The home side then had their own effort blocked on the line from a Sion Phillips header via close range.

Further set piece chances came for Hotspur but the teams went in at half time goalless.

Half-time: 0-0

Hotspur came out of the blocks fast in the second half with the clear aim to pin Rhyl back with pressure high up the pitch.

It was all the home side now with chances falling for Cory Williams and Kane Roberts.

The deadlock was broken on 57 minutes when Cory Williams released Summers Jones, who showed great determination to pick himself off the ground, picking up a rebound on the left of the box before cutting inside to finish past the keeper from close range.

Then against the run of play Rhyl were awarded a penalty which was given by the assistant referee on the near side, who adjudged the Hotspur defender to have tripped the away attacker.

Jonny Taylor took the responsibility but his penalty was expertly saved by Guto Hughes down to the keeper’s right much to the delight of the home crowd.

Then minutes later the relentless Summers Jones was brought down in the box with the referee pointing to the spot with no hesitation.

Summers Jones dusted himself down and stepped up to dispatch the spot kick giving the keeper no chance.

Further controversy followed with the Rhyl keeper Josh Cooke being adjudged to have handled the ball outside of his area leaving the visitors to finish the game with 10 men.

The home side managed the closing stages well to see out the game and claim a well deserved three points.

TEAMS

Holyhead Hotspur

Guto Hughes
James Phillips
Kyle Murphy
Tomos Owen
Sion Phillips
Ifan Emlyn Jones
Jack Walsh
Cory Williams
Kane Roberts
Dylan Summers-Jones
Kenleigh Owen (c(
SUBS USED
Tomi Llywelyn, Mitchell Jones, Cai Parry, Harry Lewis.

CPD Y Rhyl 1879

Josh Cooke
James Stevens
Casey Faulkner
James Jones
Reece Fairhurst (c)
Ollie Staveley
Sam Ashton
Alex Jones
Jonny Bravo Pinto
Jordan Worthington
Tom Kemp
SUBS USED
Leigh Craven, James Hay, Harvey Edgar, Jonny Taylor.