JD CYMRU NORTH: Prestatyn relegated, top two Bay and Airbus win, Bangor 1876 relegation worries continue

JD CYMRU NORTH – REPORTS AND TABLE

Prestatyn Town 0 Colwyn Bay 4

Prestatyn Town will be back playing third-tier football next season for the first time in 20 years.

Not since 2005-06, when the Seasiders were crowned Welsh Alliance League champions by nine points with a 30-game undefeated record, have the club operated at level three of the national pyramid.

Since that phenomenal 05/06 campaign, Town have spent eight seasons in the Cymru Premier, won the tier 2 Cymru Alliance/Cymru North title on three occasions, lifted the Welsh Cup for the first time in their history and won a tie in the Europa League.

Sadly, on Friday evening, Prestatyn’s fortunes had turned full circle as they were relegated from the Cymru North after a 4-0 home loss to Colwyn Bay.

Two goals and an assist from Dan Atkins helped Bay seal the victory which keeps the Seagulls a point clear of Airbus at the top of the table with four games to play.

Craig Lindfield and substitute Lloyd Marsh-Hughes were the other Bay scorers.

Flint Mountain 1 Airbus UK 2

Airbus produced a strong second half comeback to defeat tough opponents who were 1-0 up at the break.

After a scrappy opening, Mountain took a 17th minute lead.

Ryan Kershaw’s curling effort came crashing off the bar and Airbus were unable to deal with the second ball. Alfie Clark delivered into Andy Brown, who volleyed into the roof of the net.

The home grew in confidence and dominated the rest of the half.

Jack Sconce hit two efforts off target, before Brown was unable to make the right connection in the Wingmakers’ box.

Mountain had the first chance of the second half, Sconce testing visiting keeper Keighan Jones.

This kicked Airbus into action and on 56 minutes they were level. Jordan Evans sweetly struck an amazing free kick that beat John Danby into the top corner.

Just after the hour, Oli Lanceley was introduced for Josh Stevenson as Airbus searched for the winner.

In the 72nd minute, Airbus had their second goal. From a counter-attack, Kaiden Cooke crossed from the left to the near post and Lanceley was there to head home.

Cooke tried his luck with a curling effort which looked like it was going to dip under the bar, but a strong hand from Danby denied the Airbus No.12. Danby.then got down low to deny Lanceley.

In added time, Cooke was tearing in on goal, but Mountan’s Jordan Williams brought the Wingmakers flyer down and was shown a red card for a last man challenge.

Gresford Athletic 3 Llandudno 4

Ten-man Gresford were victims of a last-gasp sucker punch which earned Llandudno a seventh win in eight starts.

In the 14th minute, Tudno’s Mark Cadwallader was in the right place at the right time to tap home.

Gresford rallied, Charlie Mann’s shot from a tight angle saved by Cameron Darling before Haci Ozlu hit a decent effort just wide.

Charley Edge’s free kick also went close, but come the interval Llandudno led 1-0.

The second half started superbly for Athletic, with Ozlu drilling a cross into the path of Mann, whose first-time hit gave the Colliers a 49th minute equaliser.

Toby Gallagher-Keenan, Mann and Edge had further home attempts before things turned to disaster for Gresford, as Joe Nelson was shown a second yellow card in the 65th minute.

Nonetheless, in the 70th minute, Mann superbly aimed his corner towards Adam Hesp, who headed home to make it 2-1.

The celebrations were quickly ended, though, as Llandudno equalised in the 73rd minute through a Callum Stephens strike.

Then, in the 83rd minute, the Seasiders were awarded a penalty which Cadwallader grasped to earn his second goal of the game and 22nd of the season.

Gresford continued to battle hard, and in the 88th minute, Elliott Orton managed to equalise.

Despite the superb fight shown by the Colliers, Llandudno did find the time to force one more chance and earned a last-minute winner through a rocket from substitute Adam Stephens in the 94th minute.

Ruthin Town 0 Holywell Town 2

Four straight wins for third-place Holywell in which they have not conceded a single goal.

Hosts Ruthin started well, Harry Martin forcing Shaun Pearson to pull off a great save from a fierce shot.

However, it was the Wellmen who broke the deadlock on the half hour, A Danny Andrews corner was met by Danny Sullivan, who rose well and headed into the bottom corner.

Ruthin nearly got a quick equaliser but Pearson this time denied Llyr Morris.

Holywell began the second half strongly and established a two-goal cushion on 56 minutes. Andrews delivered another great corner to the far post, Sullivan got a touch to knock it back across goal and Jamie Breese was there to tap the ball home.

Two minutes later, Ruthin won a penalty and up stepped Daniel Holland to take it but he blazed high over the bar.

Ruthin kept battling, but anything they threw at the Wellmen, the defence kept firm and thwarted any chances.

Morris fired a late strike goalwards and Pearson had to react well to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Caersws 3 Llay Welfare 2

Max McLaughlin’s 95th mnute winner clinched the three points which gave Caersws’ hopes of escaping relegation a boost.

McLaughlin had earlier made it 2-2 and Ashley Harries was also on target for the Bluebirds, while Jonathan Collo and Ruben Lima Teixeira replied for relegated Llay.

Denbigh Town 2 Bangor 1876 1

Town made it a league double over Bangor on Saturday with Alfie Vaughan’s brace seeing off the relegation-threatened Citizens.

It took until the second half for the deadlock to be broken when Vaughan smashed home an outstanding effort from range before hitting home from close range to double the lead.

Bangor were handed a lifeline in stoppage time with a penalty, where Elijah Beattie couldn’t make it three spot-kick saves in as many games but it would prove to be just a consolation via Corrig McGonigle.

Bangor now face a crucial three games to stay in the division, whilst Denbigh ensured their place having gone mathematically clear of the drop with time to spare.

Guilsfield 1 Buckley Town 0

Jamie Hyne’s 13th minute goal was enough to clinch the points for Guilsfield.

Penrhyncoch 0 Mold Alexandra 0

No goals at Cae Baker in a game featuring two sides who look fairly safe from the threat of the drop.