Latest: Ardal North West – Six away wins in row for Trearddur, Rhyl 1879 still top, Port within point of leaders

LOCK STOCK ARDAL NORTH WEST

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12

Llangefni Town 1 Trearddur Bay 2

Toby Jones’ 90th minute penalty clinched an astonishing sixth straight away league victory for Trearddur Bay.

Llangefni were the latest victims of the happy travelling Beach Boys, who have also beaten Llanrwst United, Pwllheli, Porthmadog, Conwy Borough and Nantlle Vale on the road since December 21.

Warren Gibbs’ side are up to third in Ardal North West with a trip to NFA their next big test this Saturday.

Cefni had won 2-1 at Bay back in late September thanks to two stoppage time strikes, but Trearddur got their revenge at Cae Bob Parry.

In Wednesday’s return, Bay started well having the majority of possession in the first 20 minutes, but it was the hosts with the best chance of the first half.

A rare mistake from Dewi Thomas saw Osian Jones in on goal. Thomas’ blushes were spared with a fantastic save from Paul Pritchard in the Bay goal.

Toby Jones went closest for Trearddur in the first half, but his flash shot from 25 yards didn’t quite have enough turn on it to find the net.

The second half started like the first and Bay full-backs Sion Edwards and Ryan Pryce were causing all sorts of issues for the Cefni back line.

The deadlock was broken on 57 minutes, Ant Marshall headed down from a corner and Les Davies was on hand to smash home his 9th league goal of the campaign and 16th in all competitions.

Bay looked to push on and Sean McCaffery had a chance from close range smothered by Maddox Owen in the Cefni goal.

Although Bay looked like the team more likely to score, Llangefni did pose threats on the break and Osian Jones almost levelled with a clever lob shot from a wide area but the ball just fell wide of the goal.

Cefni’s efforts were rewarded on 77 minutes, Aron Hughes-Jones brought down by Thomas Lennon in the area leaving the referee with no choice. Hughes-Jones stepped up to fire home the penalty,

Bay went searching for a winner and gaps were appearing all over the pitch now for both sides. McCaffery found himself in the area after a fine passage of play. The midfielder was about to pull the trigger before being hauled to the ground and once again the referee was left with no choice but to award a spot kick.

Toby Jones took responsibility as the game entered stoppage time and calmly lifted his effort into the net after sending the keeper the wrong way for his 12th goal this term.

Six minutes of stoppage time were added and Llangefni went searching for another equaliser. They claimed a handball on the goalline but it was not given. Final score: 1-2.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11

Porthmadog 3 Menai Bridge Tigers 0
Report: Mr Treflyn Jones

Porthmadog moved to within a point of leaders Rhyl 1879 having played a game more following Tuesday’s success on a cold night at Y Traeth.

Second from top met second from bottom and the visitors played rather well considering their league standing and the overall standard of their play is testimony perhaps to the depth of talent within the Ardal North West League.

Port took the lead after only three minutes. Jake Jones found Danny Brookwell in space and he put top-scorer Tom Hilditch clean through on goal.

The striker’s close range shot was blocked by Tigers keeper Caron Hughes but the high rebound fell kindly into the path of the creative Kurtis Pearson whose header went wide of a defender on the line for a welcome early lead for the men in black and red.

Both sides had spells of pressure created mainly from corner kicks before Port`gave themselves much-needed breathing space on 40 minutes when Brookwell seized possession from a defender on the right wing. His chest high cross was aimed at the unmarked Hilditch near the far post and his masterfully controlled volley hit the back of the net.

The second half was dull on the whole, although things brightened up during the last 15 minutes.

Port substitute John Littlemore’s 25 yard thunderbolt cannoned off the crossbar three minutes into injury time. The returning Jamie Jones put the game well and truly to bed as he was released by a splendid back-header by Cai Jones before rounding the keeper to tap home.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8

Corwen 1-0 Holyhead Hotspur

Sam Henry’s 39th minute penalty was enough to earn Corwen a second home win over Hotspur this season.

Leslie Brophy’s 33rd minute red card put the hosts down to 10 men, but the visitors were unable to take advantage, Alex Jones missing a 97th minute penalty. Corwen keeper Tyler French was shown a second yellow in added time.

Llannefydd 4-0 Connah’s Quay Town

Seven league wins in a row for Llannefydd, Ciran Jones, Llion Morris and Tom Jones on target in the first half, while Mathew Evans added a fourth on the hour.

Llanrwst United 0-4 Trearddur Bay

A stunning result for Trearddur Bay over a Llanrwst outfit which had won seven and drawn one of their eight home league games this season.

It was 0-0 when Joel Morgan Jones of Llanrwst was red-carded with 53 gone and Bay got on top from there, Sean McCaffery, Les Davies and Joe Chaplin all scoring in a 13-minute spell.

Josh Stanley-Williams added number four from the penalty spot after 86.

Menai Bridge Tigers 2-4 NFA FC

Tigers led 2-0 at half time through early goals from Callum Thomas and Callum Graves, but NFA fought back to win the day after the break.

Oliver Hansen (2), David Wallis and Owen Herbert found the net for the Rhyl-based visitors in a complete turnaround.

Nantlle Vale 1-3 Porthmadog

Hat-trick hero Tom Hilditch won the match for visitors Port, Llion Griffiths responding for the hosts.

Pwllheli 4-1 Conwy Borough

Luke Steele, who sadly picked up an injury which will keep him sidelined for a while, Ashley Ainsworth, Iwan Roberts-Jones and Sion Jones delivered the crucial goals for Pwllheli, travellers Conwy responding through Toby Adams.

Y Felinheli 4-1 St Asaph City

Cracking win for Felin, Iwan Owen (2), Gruff John and Caio Hughes sharing the home goals, sub Callum Murphy for the Saints.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7

Llangefni Town 0-1 CPD Rhyl 1879

Paul Fleming’s goal in first half added time clinched a fourth straight away win for Rhyl 1879 and meant they are now 11 league matches unbeaten with 29 points taken out of a possible last 33.

It was clear from very early on this was going to be a war of attrition for the players as any ball above head height would either get caught up or blown massively off target by the wind.

The closest call for either side up to the midway stage of the first half came when Fleming drilled just past the post with a volley from the middle of the box.

Rhyl’s rhythm was unsettled on 35 as forward Archie Jones pulled up with an injury. He was replaced by Jonny Bravo.

Llangefni almost capitalised on the break, Cai Griffith firing over from the edge of the box.

Bravo’s introduction gave a different dynamic to the team and his link-up play with fellow front man Dylan Proctor was almost instant. Bravo was in on goal after a quick one-two with Proctor, but his shot was blocked.

In the 48th minute of play, the deadlock was broken. Jason Foulkes’ free kick, swinging in to the back post, landed at the feet of Fleming, who calmly volleyed into the roof of the net.

The second half started with Llangefni on the front foot. A few early chances with some good work through the middle was snuffed out by the defensive duo of Reece Fairhurst and the outstanding Jordan Worthington.

Makeshift defender Worthington had the best chance of the second half, a close-range header with 67 minutes played.

Llangefni’s young goalkeeper Owen Jones concocted an unbelievable save late on from a Foulkes free-kick.