FLASHBACK – 5 years ago: Holywell melt down the Steelmen in crunch league clash

Welsh National League (Wrexham Area) Premier Division – December 21, 2019

Brymbo 2 (Bell 50, New 60)
Holywell Town 4 (S Jones 5, Dobbins 9, Allshorn 31, Cooke 70)

Report: Steve Roberts

On this weekend five years ago Holywell travelled to Brymbo for a Welsh National League (Wrexham Area) Premier Division clash.

This was to be just a one-season experience for the Wellmen, who were relegated from the Cymru Alliance in 2018-19, and found themselves in unfamiliar territory in tier 3.

A season cut short by Covid saw Johnny Haseldin’s side land the Premier Division title at the first attempt to secure a return to tier 2 in what was to be the 2021-22 campaign, 2020-21 being inactive for all leagues below tier 1 because of the pandemic.

The game at Brymbo was only 5 minutes old when Holywell won a free kick just outside the area to the right of the goal.

Sam Jones stepped up to take it and his kick evaded everyone, finding the bottom corner without anyone getting a touch.

Four minutes later, Town had doubled their lead. A great cross found Mark Connolly, whose header was partly saved by the Brymbo keeper and Dan Dobbins was on hand to tap the ball home.

Town were playing great football and made it three with just over half an hour played.

Jake Cooke won the ball off a defender close to the touchline, sped forward to the by-line and whipped in a low cross into the box. The wrong-footed Sam Jones was unable to control and get his shot off, but Dylan Allshorn followed up and drilled home to put the Wellmen in control at the break.

Town feared the worst early in the second half when Brymbo pulled a goal back, Charlie Bell tapping the ball past Mike Platt after good pressure down the left.

The goal lifted the home side and they should have had a quick second, but Jamie Cumming’s shot from a good position went high over the crossbar.

The pressure took its toll on the hour mark as the home side made it 3-2, Platt dropping the ball at the feet of William New, who made no mistake from close range.

The Wellmen were looking nervous, and the Steelmen sensed they could grab another goal. However, Holywell’s defence withstood the pressure and they now sought a fourth goal to take the sting out of Brymbo.

With the hosts pressing for the equaliser, Town broke well, James Graham feeding a great ball through to Sam Jones, who beat his marker, stepped around the advancing keeper, and his shot was going into an empty net until a Brymbo defender hurried back to clear off the line.

Moments later, Connolly slammed one against the upright, but the fourth away goal finally came in the 70th minute.

Cooke ran into the box from the left, turned and beat his marker before firing the ball past the keeper giving him no chance – 4-2!

The Wellmen continued to press forward and in the final 10 minutes, substitute Lee Butterworth rattled the crossbar and the ball was cleared to safety.

The home side pressed forward in the final few minutes but were unable to add to their tally.

The Holywell lads came off the pitch to a standing ovation from the Wellmen faithful who had made the journey to Brymbo. The victory lifted Town to 4th place in the Premier Division at Christmas.

Town had lost 4-2 at Brymbo in the FAW Trophy seven weeks earlier, so this was sweet revenge.

After that loss, Holywell earned nine wins in a row and went unbeaten in 11 before losing their last game of 2019-20 to Cefn Albion. Town had also drawn 0-0 at home against Brymbo in the league that season.

In March, Holywell Town were crowned the final champions of the Premier Division as the Welsh National (Wrexham Area) League was disbanded at the end of 2019-20.