MATCH OF THE NIGHT: Flint Mountain 4 Gresford Athletic 4 (JD Cymru North)

Flint Mountain (white) and Gresford Athletic tussle for the ball. Picture: MATT JOHNSON – many thanks

JD CYMRU NORTH – FRIDAY, AUGUST 22

Flint Mountain 4 (Cassidy 21 & 39, O’Riordan 73, Smith 81)

Gresford Athletic 4 (Roberts 18 & 43, Ozlu 85 & 95)

Report: RHYS JONES

Two late goals from Haci Ozlu denied Flint Mountain a first win, but on a positive note the Bastion Gardens side did get off the mark points-wise after a thrilling draw.

Visitors Gresford began the match on top, although early shouts for a penalty to The Colliers in the fourth minute were waved away by referee Aled Williams.

Jake Roberts put in a good cross towards Ozlu in the fifth minute, but the latter’s header went over the crossbar.

However, Athletic did find their opening goal in the 18th minute, Jake Roberts hooking the ball around keeper Stephen Bullen to edge Eddie Maurice Jones’ side in front.

Despite this, Mountain did not lie down, and equalised quickly in the 21st minute, with Owen Cassidy bagging his first goal of the evening.

Toby Gallagher-Keenan picked up the ball in the 31st minute, drove forward and shot on goal, but his effort went wide of the post.

Then, in the 39th minute, Mountain turned the game on its head, taking the lead through Cassidy.

Athletic fought back and in the 43rd minute, Jake Roberts picked up his and The Colliers’ second goal. looping the ball over Bullen.

HALF-TIME: Flint Mountain 2-2 Gresford Athletic

Jake Roberts almost found himself a hat-trick quickly after the second half began, with his free-kick rattling the woodwork in the 49th minute.

Gresford went close again in the 67th minute, with Iwan Roberts’ ball finding Ozlu in a good position, but the effort went narrowly wide.

Haci Ozlu rescued a point for Gresford with two late goals. Picture: MATT JOHNSON

Then, Flint Mountain managed to go in front for a second time, with former Gresford midfielder Rian O’Riordan hitting a superb rocket of a strike into the back of the net to make it 3-2.

Mountain nudged two ahead in the 79th minute, with Louie Smith getting himself on the scoresheet.

It looked like the first three points for the home side, but Ozlu had other ideas and squeezed in his first goal with just five minutes left on the clock.

The Colliers continued to pile on the pressure, with Lewis Dutton’s free-kick being palmed away by Bullen in the 88th minute, then Jac Lloyd saw his header well saved in the 89th minute.

Then, in some style, Ozlu managed to find the equalising goal directly from a corner-kick in the 95th minute, salvaging a draw for the Wrexham area visitors.

Flint Mountain: Stephen Bullen, Samuel John, Callum Woods (C), Kieran Handley, Louie Smith, Owen Cassidy (Joe Ly 48), Calum Proctor (Rian O’Riordan 60), Kieran Owens (Dom McHugh 80), Danny Reid, Jonny O’Sullivan, Adam Newbold
Subs Not Used: Flynn Proctor (GK), Ben Richards, Charlie Smith, Brandon Groves

Gresford Athletic: Lewis Dutton, Mitchell Williams, James Smith, Jac Lloyd, Alex Buxton, Josh Griffiths (C) (Thomas Smith 78), Iwan Roberts, Haci Ozlu, Toby Gallagher-Keenan (Sam Bryan 83), Charlie Mann, Jake Roberts (Steven Walters 90)