Flint are staying up! Great second phase of the season saves Silkmen

JD CYMRU PREMIER PLAY-OFF CONFERENCE – MARCH 28, 2025

Aberystwyth Town 1 (Niall Flint 87 pen)
Flint Town United 2 (Ben Wynne 35, Elliott Reeves 65)

Flint are staying up! They are staying up!

Lee Fowler’s side secured their Cymru Premier status for another season after a 2-1 victory at relegated Aberystwyth on Friday night.

Promoted to the top flight this campaign, things started badly for the Silkmen in 2024-25 with five straight defeats.

By the end of phase one, they had managed to compile six wins and two draws, 14 games having been lost, consigning them to the Championship Conference.

A tough relegation battle in the lower sixth was on the cards, but Flint began well, beating Connah’s Quay Nomads and made things much easier for themselves by winning four out of four at the Essity Stadium in phase two, added to the three straight home victories they had compiled in the latter first part of the season.

Those seven home successes on the bounce no doubt not only saved Flint’s skins, but also ensured they avoid the drop zone in relative comfort.

Over the season, they have taken 12 points out of 12 versus Aberystwyth and seven from nine so far against Newtown and Briton Ferry Llansawel.

Beating those teams in and around you makes such a difference. Win your ‘league within a league’ and you should be fine.

Other impressive results for Fowler’s men include home victories over Connah’s Quay Nomads – their first in league combat against their local rivals in 10 attempts dating back to 2011-12 – and Haverfordwest County.

Leading scorers in the league have been Elliott Reeves with 9 and Florian Yonsian 7, not forgetting skipper Harry Owen’s hat-trick of headers versus Briton Ferry.

MATCH REPORT v ABERYSTWYTH – FRIDAY, MARCH 28

Aber created some clear chances in the first half and perhaps should have been ahead at the break.

Jonathan Evans drilled wide from a good position, then Iwan Lewis’ screamer crashed against the post.

At the other end, Josh Jones lofted a fine ball over the Town defence for Elliott Reeves, whose left-foot strike was well kept out by Dave Jones diving to his right.

Visiting keeper Jack Flint then produced a remarkable triple save, denying Alex Darlington, Evans and Niall Flint in quick succession.

Jack Flint then smartly held a long range effort from his namesake Niall as Aber continued to press.

However, it was the Silkmen who struck first on 35 minutes, Ben Wynne allowed to run from deep and let fly with a cracking low shot which flew into the left-hand corner of the net.

It should have been two after brilliant work from Reeves laid it on a plate for Josh Jones, who somehow blazed over the bar.

Jake Phillips went close when he ran the length of the field before hitting a fierce drive which Jones was able to palm onto the bar and over.

Flint doubled their lead on 65 minutes when Reeves was allowed to advance from midfield and his low strike beat the dive of Jones to bring the scorer his ninth in goal the league this term.

Jones produced marvellous stops to foil sub Luke Mariette and Reeves before the later found the net at the third attempt, but had stayed offside.

Aber bagged a consolation when Abdi Sharif was felled in the box by Phillips and Niall Flint netted from the spot.

FLINT TOWN UNITED – SURVIVAL ACHIEVED 2024-25

Phase Two
Mar 28: Aberystwyth Town (a) 2-1
Mar 22: Barry Town United (h) 3-2
Mar 11: Connah’s Quay Nomads (a) 0-4
Mar 6: Newtown (a) 2-2
Feb 22: Briton Ferry Llansawel (h) 3-1
Feb 7: Aberystwyth Town (h) 2-0
Feb 1: Barry Town United (a) 1-3
Jan 25: Connah’s Quay Nomads (h) 2-1

Phase One
Jan 14: Caernarfon Town (a) 0-3
Jan 1: Newtown (h) 2-0
Dec 26: Connah’s Quay Nomads (a) 2-7
Dec 14: Cardiff Met University (a) 0-2
Dec 4: Aberystwyth Town (h) 3-0
Nov 23: Briton Ferry Llansawel (h) 2-1
Nov 9: Penybont (a) 1-3
Nov 2: Haverfordwest County (a) 1-4
Oct 26: Barry Town United (h) 1-2
Oct 15: The New Saints (a) 0-5
Oct 12: Bala Town (h) 2-2
Oct 4: Newtown (a) 4-2
Sep 28: Penybont (h) 0-1
Sep 25: Caernarfon Town (h) 1-2
Sep 21: Briton Ferry Llansawel (a) 1-1
Sep 14: Haverfordwest County (h) 1-0
Sep 7: Aberystwyth Town (a) 2-0
Aug 31: Barry Town United (a) 2-3
Aug 26: Connah’s Quay Nomads (h) 0-1
Aug 23: Bala Town (a) 0-2
Aug 16: The New Saints (h) 1-4
Aug 10: Cardiff Met Universitty (h) 1-2

PLAYED 30 WON 11 DRAWN 3 LOST 16 GF 42 GA 61

TO PLAY
Apr 12: Briton Ferry Llansawel (a)
Apr 19: Newtown (h)