Ardal North West report: Llangefni end long run without a win over Holyhead Hotspur

ARDAL NORTH WEST – DECEMBER 20, 2024

Holyhead Hotspur 0
Llangefni Town 1 (O Jones 87)

Llangefni Town celebrated what is believed to be their first league win over Holyhead Hotspur in 15 years on a cold Friday evening at the New Stadium.

Back in 2009-10, Cefni were crowned Cymru Alliance League champions in a campaign where they won 4-0 at Hotspur, with Holyhead victorious 2-1 in the reverse game at Cae Bob Parry.

Since then there have been many seasons where the teams have not met, the pair alternating between the Cymru Alliance and Welsh Alliance at different times, but in 2021-22 the rivals were reunited in JD Cymru North and Hotspur had gone unbeaten in their last five clashes with Llangefni ahead of tonight.

Matches at Holyhead have a good record for beating the weather and so was the case on Friday evening, with the Ardal North West derby the only North Wales game to go ahead.

In what was a fairly even and scrappy encounter, the wind played a big factor so it was a case of a game of two halves.

Llangefni played against the wind in the first half and Holyhead created a couple of chances with balls in behind and looked dangerous on set pieces as they had a fair few corners in the opening 45.

Town defended them well and the visitors were more than happy with a 0-0 scoreline at half time.

In the second half, the game flipped and Cefni saw more of the ball. Hotspur were reduced to 10 men on 49 minutes when Jack Walsh was shown a straight red for a dangerous challenge on Jamie Thomas.

With the extra man, Llangefni were pushing for the winner by the closing stages and well on top.

They finally got their goal in the 87th minute with a flick on to release Osh Jones through one on one with the keeper and he finished well into the bottom left corner.

Holyhead pressed in added time to equalize but Town saw the game out despite a huge slice of added time after the 90.

HOLYHEAD HOTSPUR v LLANGEFNI TOWN – HEAD TO HEAD (LEAGUE GAMES ONLY)

2024-25 (ANW): Hotspur 0 Llangefni 1; Llangefni 1 Hotspur 1

2023-24 (Ardal North West): Llangefni 1 Hotspur 1; Hotspur 1 Llangefni 1

2021-22 (Cymru North): Llangefni 0 Hotspur 5; Hotspur 2 Llangefni 0

2009-10 (Cymru North): Hotspur 0 Llangefni 4; Llangefni 1 Hotspur 2