Ardal North West: Stunning comeback wins for Porthmadog and Holyhead Hotspur

LOCK STOCK ARDAL NORTH WEST – REPORTS AND TABLE MARCH 15

Porthmadog 4 Llangefni Town 3
Report: Mr Treflyn Jones

On an afternoon of remarkable comebacks Porthmadog produced the greatest of all as they turned around a 3-0 deficit to beat Llangefni at Y Traeth.

Trailing by three goals after just 20 minutes, second-place Port recovered to claim a stunning victory which put them eight points behind leaders CPD Y Rhyl 1879 with a game in hand.

The hosts got off to a disastrous start due to a combination of ponderous, hesitant defending from them and clinical finishing by Llangefni.

After Jamie Jones had gone close for Port, Cefni simply took command.

Port failed to clear their lines in the 10th minute and after some pin-ball in the box, Aron Hughes-Jones produced a very fine low shot into the corner of the net.

A few minutes later, the enterprising visitors doubled their money when a speculative high punt up the field was well chased down by Osian Jones who volleyed expertly over Farebrother in no man’s land.

Then, on 20 minutes a deathly hush fell on Y Traeth when the men from Mon went 3-0 up. There seemed to be no danger when Iddon Price took a throw–in aimed at Farebrother, but, puzzlingly, the custodian elected to try and boot the ball away and lost possession as his attempted clearance was charged down by the determined Osian Jones, who did well to gleefully place his shot into the net from a tight angle.

Port now had a mountain to climb and the home supporters raised a huge cheer when Tom Hilditch seemingly netted to reduce the deficit, but was ruled offside as he finished from a rebound off keeper Maddox Owen.

Fortunately for the hosts, a mere five minutes later, Port were awarded a free kick 25 yards out following a clumsy challenge. Up stepped Rhys Alun with an absolute peach of a goal as the ball sailed way out of Owens reach into the top corner of the net. A lifeline for the home side.

HALF-TIME: 1-3

Port were in dire need of an early goal after the interval and this they achieved when a deep cross by Jamie Jones fell to the unmarked Hilditch, who headed skillfully past Owen.

On 57 minutes it was 3-3.

Central defender Price volleyed low and hard into the net from Rhys Alun’s floated free kick.

At this stage, Llangefni were still a very dangerous team on the counter-attack and Farebrother more than atoned for his first half error by producing two excellent saves.

In the 76th minute, the picturesque Traeth simply erupted. An attempted clearance by Llangefni’s keeper was splendidly charged down by Jamie Jones who then unselfishly rolled the ball into Hilditch’s path and the burly striker made no mistake from eight yards out to make it 4-3.

And that goal won an amazing game.

The result puts just a little bit of pressure on runaway leaders Rhyl who went down 4-3 at home to Holyhead Hotspur and Port`s display gives them a good chance of making the play-offs.

However, both Holyhead and Llannefydd will doubtlessly have something to say about that.

This Saturday, Port head to Corwen for another must-win league encounter with a 2:30 kick-off.

Porthmadog: Oliver Farebrother, Jake Jones, Jack Rimmer (John Littlemore 75), Nathan Williams, Iddon Price, Caio Evans, Jamie Jones (Elis Puw 81), Ryan Williams (Gruff Ellis 75), Tom Hilditch (Aron Jones 85), Rhys Alun, Danny Brookwell (Sion Williams 45)

Llangefni: Maddox Jones Owen , Aled Williams (Ifan Mansoor 8), Cai Griffith, Alun Roberts, Sion Trefor Jones, Caio Inch, Osian Jones (Cameron Jones 88), Jack Smith, Aron Hughes-Jones, Jamie Lee Thomas (Dafydd Jones 79), Harry Hughes.

Corwen 0 St Asaph City 3

Good win on the road for St Asaph who edged themselves further clear of the bottom three.

City’s Josh Brown headed just wide before the same player crossed into the Corwen box, where Jake Walker got his toe to the ball, forcing a save out of Tyler French.

On the brink of half time TFrench played a long ball forward, which was knocked on to Patrick Hinchcliffe, whose shot whipped wide of the far post.

The deadlock was broken 20 minutes into the second half when the away side won the ball back in their own half and pounced with a quick move, Walker finding James Williams, who curled home the opener.

Three minutes later Sam Henry was denied by a great save from Saints goalkeeper Luke Jones from a free kick.

From the resulting corner City stole possession and attacked, Callum Roberts netting to make it 2-0.

The result was all but confirmed with 10 minutes to play when Asaph cut through the Corwen defence and James Williams fed Liam Grayson, who slotted beyond.French.

Llanrwst United 2 Connah’s Quay Town 2

Yet another draw for the Rwsters, Callum Parry and Sam Thomas the home marksmen, but Quay battled back from two-down to secure a point, Freddie Watts and Raynor Gray for the Deesiders.

NFA 1 Nantlle Vale 0

Harry Lockley’s 76th minute penalty was enough to earn NFA a narrow home triumph over Nantlle Vale.

Trearddur Bay 1 CPD Llannefydd 2

Matty Jones sealed a dramatic win for Llannefydd with an added-time winner.

Llan struck first through Tom Jones’ 76th minute penalty, and although Sean McCaffery levelled on 88, Matty Jones won it with 93 showing on the clock.

CPD Y Felinheli 1 CPD Pwllheli 2

Ashley Ainsworth and Marcus Banks delivered the late goals which brought maxumum points to Pwllheli.

Rhys Parry’s eighth-minute strike put Felinheli one-up, but the hosts could have been three or four in front at the break.

Felin paid the price in the second period as Ainsworth and Banks scored on 77 and 81 minutes respectively.

CPD Y Rhyl 1879 3 Holyhead Hotspur 4

Rhyl lost for the first time in 17 league matches after an astonishing comeback from Hotspur.
Dylan Proctor’s double put the Lilywhites two-up and with 70 minutes gone, the leaders looked all but home and dry.

However, three substitutions for the visitors turned the game.

One sub, Cory Williams, scored twice and earned a penalty which Tomos Owen converted, while replacement Shay Murphy also struck for the visitors.

Holyhead led 3-2 with three goals in a matter of minutes, Sam Reynolds equalised on 84, but man of the match Williams won it after 88.

This match was reported on in detail by Grassroots North Wales on Saturday.