FAW Reserve League: farewell to football for goals king Owain

Retiring striker Owain Williams with his eight-year-old daughter Beca, who was Llanuwchllyn’s mascot for the day

FAW RESERVE LEAGUE NORTH WEST

Llanuwchllyn Reserves 2 Dolgellau AA Reserves 1

This match marked goodbye for a popular North Wales player who is hanging up his boots.

Llanuwchllyn Reserves captain Owain Williams, 40, made a winning farewell as he scored in his team’s 2-1 triumph over Dolgellau Reserves on Saturday.

It was fitting that after starting his senior football days with Dolgellau Reserves, Owain ended his career playing against them.

Scorer of more than 200 goals since 2001, Owain has also previously played for Bala Town, Blaenau Ffestiniog and Barmouth and Dyffryn.

His departing message on social media was: “And that’s that! It’s been quite a rollercoaster!!!

“Started as a 16 year old for Dolgellau Reserves and 24 years later, finished against Dolgellau Reserves – very fitting!

“Diolch yn fawr bois … it’s been a blast.”

The phrase ‘hanging up your boots’ is often used, but usually doesn’t involve the actual suspending of said boots from a coat peg, however Owain actually did what he said he is doing!

Owain scored an impressive 18 goals in his final season which saw Llanuwchllyn Reserves finish third in the FAW Reserve League North West.

Saturday’s game saw Owain strike first on 37 minutes from an Elis Jones assist.

Sub Rhys Taylor-Clarke brought Dolgellau level on 47 minutes, but Cadog Edwards delivered the winner on 82.

Llanrwst United Reserves 0 Llandudno Reserves 4

Bobby Gaze, Harvey Bennett (2) and Cieran Williams shared the goals which clinched the league title for Llandudno.

The story of their success was covered in more detail by Grassroots North Wales earlier this week.

FAW RESERVE LEAGUE NORTH EAST

Buckley Town Reserves 1 St Asaph Reserves 3

Noah Spindler, Callum Murphy and Jack Jones got the goals that mattered as Saints took the points in this battle of bottom three sides.

Llay Welfare Reserves 3 Denbigh Town Reserves 2

Ethan Davies (2) and Jared Taylor (pen) won this game for Llay, Sait Kanli replying with a double for Denbigh.

A player from each team was red-carded on 57 minutes – Taylor for Welfare and Denbigh’s Lewis Devine.

Mold Alexandra Reserves 0 Airbus UK Broughton Reserves 1

Robbie Jones’ 36th minute net-finder won the day for Airbus.

Mold had Joshua Watkin red-carded on 65 minutes.

NFA U23 2 The New Saints Reserves 3

Captain Thomas Blaze’s 90th minute decider won a close contest for new leaders Saints.

NFA, who beat TNS away back in February, found the target through Harrison Bellis and Curtis Cook, Hadif Hizamshol among the other scorers for the visitors.

Prestatyn Town Reserves 5 Gresford Athletic Reserves 3

Cayden Hazeldine (2), Leon Atkins, Michael Wrzesinski and Leon Bower split the goals in a great win for Prestatyn, Rob Reynolds (2) and William Evans responding for the visitors.

Reynolds has scored 34 goals in 21 appearances for Gresford Reserves this term.