Weekend action: Ardal North West – Rhyl 1879 hit summit, Llannefydd edge thriller

LOCK STOCK ARDAL NORTH WEST REPORTS – SATURDAY, JANUARY 18

CPD Pwllheli 0 CPD Rhyl 1879 2

New league leaders Rhyl 1879 made it a magnificent 22 points out of a possible last 24 as they extended their unbeaten run in Ardal North West to eight matches with a fantastic result at Pwllheli.

The home side had recently beaten previous table-toppers Porthmadog 1-0 at home and drawn 1-1 at Holyhead Hotspur, but they were second best to the Lilywhites at The Rec on Saturday.

With the memory of a 3-0 defeat at Pwll last season still no doubt within the minds of some, Paul Moore’s travelling side would be eager to get the new year off to a flyer.

Rhyl dominated all the early exchanges.

New signing Archie Jones was proving to be a real handful, and after only seven minutes of his Rhyl debut, he opened the scoring with a well-worked move that ended in him volleying home from close range following a ball in from Dylan Procter.

After the goal the home side really struggled to get anything going with Jason Foulkes, Paul Fleming and Sam Reynolds bossing the centre of midfield and Reece Fairhurst and Tom Kemp rock solid behind them.

Archie Jones fired just wide before Foulkes fed the ball up the left to Dylan Proctor, who beat a defender and cut back for Reynolds to rattle the bar.

The second goal finally came deservedly with five minutes left in the half.

Callum Proctor’s sheer determination saw him deliver up the line to Archie Jones. He beat his man and found Dylan Proctor, who took a touch and drilled past keeper Morgan Jones for 2-0.

Pwllheli were much better in the second half, but on the whole the Rhyl back-line were impenetrable, and it would take until the hour mark for the home team’s only effort on target when Adam Reid superbly kept out a a Sion Jones strike from close range.

Conwy Borough 1 CPD Nantlle Vale 2

Luke O’Mahoney’s 30th minute goal gave Borough a half time lead, but Kevin Lloyd and Ashley Owen struck before the hour to secure Nantlle Vale the points at Y Morfa.

Corwen 5 Menai Bridge Tigers 0

Sam Henry (2), Tom Weyman, Pat Hinchcliffe and sub Tom Williams split the goals as Corwen sent bottom side Menai Bridge tumbling to a 5-0 loss at Maes Tegid.

Holyhead Hotspur 1 Porthmadog 0

Shay Murphy’s 59th minute goal was enough to seal maximum points for Hotspur against a Porthmadog side which lost the leadership of Ardal North West as a result.

The hosts started the brighter and it took a good one-handed save by Ollie Farebrother to keep out a firm shot by Cory Williams before Tomi Llywelyn fired wide with a low left-footer some 12 yards out.

Port settled thereafter and a good pass by Ryan Williams found Danny Brookwell free in the box, but his hard shot from an angle was blocked by keeper Guto Hughes` legs.

The visitors were denied a penalty when Brookwell appeared to be tugged back in the box.

Farebrother denied Holyhead with another fine stop, but just before the hour Murphy found the net after his initial attempt was kept out.

Port had chances to equalise, but Brookwell and Rhys Alun were unable to capitalise.

CPD Llannefydd 3 St Asaph City 2

A dramatic ending at Cae Llan saw the home side celebrate a thrilling victory over Saints.

Josh Brown handed City an eighth-minute lead, Mathew Jones levelled on 27, but James Williams restored the Asaph advantage after 48.

Debutant Leon Gierke’s 90th minute net-finder looked to have snatched Llannefydd a point, but Gwyndaf Pritchard’s side wanted more and got it as Mathew Jones delivered a decider on 95 from a Gierke assist.

Saints manager Matthew Roberts was shown two yellow cards.

NFA FC 2 Llangefni Town 1

Harrison Bellis and Owen Herbert were on the mark for an NFA outfit which maintained their excellent home record by edging past Llangefni.

The hosts were two-up before Cameron Jones pulled one back for Cefni on 69.

That was the end of the scoring, but NFA’s James Lansdowne received a red card on 90.