Ardal North West: Rawwwwr! Tigers win at last -and what a score; Lilywhites halt NFA home record
Ardal North West reports – Saturday, December 21
Menai Bridge Tigers 8 Pwllheli 2
So you rise up to a new league, don’t achieve a single win in your first 15 games, trail 2-1 at half time in your 16th match – then the picture suddenly dramatically changes.
After more than 1,400 minutes of the pain of no W, you turn the tables and win in style by a thumping 8-2 scoreline.
Menai Bridge Tigers players must have received the mother of all half-time team talks from manager Aaron Rowlands today.
No doubt the club would have been relieved with any sort of win, but to do it so emphatically is some feat.
While taking each game as it comes is a sound philosophy, surely today’s result should lead to better things for the Anglesey outfit.
They started well against Pwlheli this afternoon, taking a seventh-minute lead through Kurt Hellfeld from a Sion Hogan assist.
However, Steffan Toplis equalised on 13 minutes and Josua Lloyd Jones ensured the visitors were ahead at half time when he netted with 35 on the clock.
The second half must rank as one of the greatest chapters in the Tigers’ history.
They were level on 49 minutes through the prolific Jamie McDaid, then scorer turned supplier as the former Caernarfon Town and Porthmadog star set up new signing Matthew Jones to make it 3-2 after 50.
Jones has been a goalscorer of some repute with the likes of Llangefni Town and Porthmadog in the past, and this week he moved to Tigers from Trearddur Bay.
Two minutes later it was 4-2, evergreen Craig Roberts on target, then after 57 Callum Graves added a fifth.
Bridge were on fire and it was no surprise when Matthew Jones bagged his second on 68.
Last season’s top-scorer Graves added two more before the end. Surely with the striking talent at their disposal now, Tigers will be registering a few more wins from here on in.
Assists were shared between Hogan, man of the match Matthew Jones, McDaid, Tom Parry and Paul Rowlands.
NFA FC 2 CPD Rhyl 1879 4
NFA’s 10-match unbeaten home record since the start of the season was shattered by fellow town side Rhyl 1879 today.
Paul Moore and Ronnie Green’s Lilywhites completed a double over a team they defeated 3-0 at Belle Vue early in the season.
Many teams had left Ffordd Derwen disappointed in league and cup this term, but Rhyl were not one of them, the second-place whites making it five unbeaten since Moore and Green took over last month.
With 17-year-old keeper George Huyton, signed in midweek, making his debut between the sticks, Rhyl broke the deadlock on 23 minutes when the prolific Dylan Proctor fired home a magnificent volley, Billy Holmes with the assist via the left.
It stayed 1-0 up to half time, so all was to play for in the second period.
The game was all but sewn up by the Lilywhites in the first 10 minutes after the restart.
Interval substitute James Hay made it 2-0 with a near post header from a Holmes flag-kick. Then Holmes scored himself direct from a corner to put the short-distance travellers three-up.
NFA never gave up and gave themselves a bit of hope on 82 minutes when sub Archie Jones found the net, Kai Davies assisting.
But the derby was well and truly settled by a genuine wonder goal with 88 gone.
Dylan Proctor lashed an absoute gem Alan Shearer-style from all of 30 yards into the top corner to become the Ardal North West’s leading scorer on 14 goals.
The 21-year-old has notched 17 goals in all competitions from 12 appearances.
NFA had sub Cammron Morris red-carded four minutes into added time, but still the hosts pressed and Harry Lockley hit a consolation goal on 95.
Conwy Borough 0 Llanrwst United 6
No stopping Llanrwst on this day.
Conor Davies and Leon Doran delivered a double apiece for the Rwsters, while Callum Parry and a sixth-minute Andrew Watkin own goal made up the six.
Nantlle Vale 3 Trearddur Bay 4
Trearddur Bay will have been delighted to bounce back from last weekend’s dire 3-0 home loss to St Asaph by finishing on top in a seven-goal thriller at Nantlle Vale.
Bay travelled to Penygroes with a depleted squad due to a number of injuries. In a strong start, Toby Jones converted a penalty which was awarded after Dan Evans was taken down in the area.
Trearddur continued to apply pressure and the lead was doubled on 24 minutes. A dangerous delivery from a Toby Jones corner was headed back across goal by Ant Marshall and Dan Evans pulled off a spectacular bicycle kick that beat the Vale keeper – his first goal for the club.
A mistake at the back led to Owain Ellis being able to fire into an empty net and the Bay were pegged back just before half time.
Half Time – Nantlle Vale 1-2 Trearddur Bay
The second half started like the first with Bay creating chances, Marshall was the provider again when substitute Sean McCaffrey calmly lifted his effort over the oncoming keeper.
The home side refused to roll over though and Ellis scored again, this time from a corner that wasn’t dealt with,
Bay hit straight back almost from the restart. Dewi Thomas’ effort was initially saved, but Jones was on hand to clear up the pieces and get his second of the day.
Zac Pike gave Vale a final glimmer of hope with a fine strike from 25 yards to bring his side within one again, but the Bay defended well in the closing stages and held on to take all 3 points.
Porthmadog 3 Y Felinheli 0
Leaders Port wiped out the nightmare of the previous weekend’s 4-0 loss at Llannefydd by seeing off Felinheli at Y Traeth.
Rhys Alun Williams netted after 24 and 39 minutes to put the table-toppers in control at half time, Danny Brookwell providing one assist.
Sion Wyn Williams made it 3-0 on 72 minutes, ensuring Chris Jones’ side retain a three-point lead at the summit. Port have won nine out of nine at home in the league to date.