Match of the Day 2: Rhyl 1879 edge a seven-goal thriller against ever-resilient Holyhead Hotspur

JD CYMRU NORTH – AUGUST 25, 2025

CPD Y Rhyl 1879 4 (A Jones 1, 7, 16 & 76)
Holyhead Hotspur 3 (C Owen 48, C Williams 48, J Jones 61)

Lightning threatened to strike twice for Holyhead Hotspur at the Hops and Barley Community Stadium, but it was not to be.

Instead, Archie Jones wrote himself into Lilywhites folklore with a four-goal salvo which earned the hosts a thrilling 4-3 win over their Holy Island rivals.

Both of Monday’s combatants were promoted from Tier 3 Ardal North West last season and in their previous meeting in March 2025, Hotspur had trailed 2-0, rallied to lead 3-2, were pegged back to 3-3, but then Darren Garmey’s men notched an 89th minute winner through Cory Williams.

One of the games of the 2024-25 season for sure – and Monday’s repeat clash was pretty similar.

Rhyl raced into a 3-0 lead, Hotspur clawed it back to 3-3, but Jones slammed in a stunning 76th minute decider for Paul Moore’s side.

The game started with the home side on fire, Archie Jones scoring straight from the kick off.

Skipper for the day Tom Kemp played a ball down the wing for the energetic Lewis Hodson. who played in Morgan Murray and he linked up with front man Jones to slot home. his somewhat scuffed shot going in off the post.

Six minutes later it was Jones again, this time Kemp releasing the striker who calmly placed he ball past Holyhead keeper Guto Hughes.

The 22-year-old Jones, who had previously bagged hat-tricks for NFA and St Asaph Development, completed his first treble for Rhyl on 16 minutes,

Hodson fed a quick free kick down Rhyl’s right to Murray who immediately delivered a cracking cross towards the back post for Jones to powerfully head home into the top right-hand corner.

Holyhead were in shock and Rhyl should have gone in at half time with the match over, Jones was through on goal and unlucky not to score, while a good long range shot from Ben Lightfoot forced a fine save by Hughes.

3-0 at half time and Rhyl cruising, or so the home fans thought!

Lilywhites followers have all seen and experienced in the past that when you think you have a lead against Holyhead that’s the game over – and then they make you look daft.

Monday was another one of those occasions.

The 1879 defence were possibly thinking the same when within two minutes from kick off the deficit reduced from 3-0 to 3-2.

An unmarked Connor Owen netted from a free-kick into the box, then Cory Williams did what he does and scored against Rhyl with a neat finish after Mo Ali was caught as the last man trying to dribble past the forward.

For the next 10 minutes Rhyl were all over the place and giving away possession and stupid fouls, and this is what led to the Holyhead equaliser.

Leo Latter conceded a free kick on the edge of the Rhyl box with a push and Jamie Jones rifled into the top left corner – three apiece after 61 minutes!

At this moment there only felt like one winner,

1879 needed a change and after several substitutions the home side began to force Holyhead back and dominate possession but looked vulnerable at the back as they pushed up for the winner.

Then on 76, a sustained number of chances in the Holyhead box saw Latter hit the bar only for it to bounce into the path of Jones who lashed in his and Rhyl’s fourth with a tremendous strike.

The Lilywhites did have a couple of chances to put the game out of sight, but 4-3 it remained and the game ended with jubilation for the home support getting a win against a very resolute and ‘never say die’ Holyhead Hotspur side.

CPD Y Rhyl 1879

Alex Swindell, Ben Lawrence, Billy Holmes, Tom Kemp, Mo Ali, Rocco Hewitt, Ben Lightfoot, Leo Latter, Morgan Murray, Lewis Hodson, Archie Jones.

Subs: Arthur Hancock, Seb Bolton, Brady Coldwell, Josh Lawrenson, Kieran Baker, Ahmed Ibrahim, James Farr.

Holyhead Hotspur

Guto Hughes, Callum Graves, Gethin Jones, Tomos Owen, Nathan Williams, Craig Whelan, Jamie Jones, Jack Walsh, Cory Williams, Connor Owen, Jacob Godsman-Pilling

Subs: Luca Meek, Huw Morris, Casey Gregg, Shay Murphy, Cameron Buckley

ATTENDANCE 386

WIMPOLE’S FASCINATING FACTS

The last player to score four goals in a game for Rhyl 1879 was Dylan Proctor in a 6-0 win over Y Felinheli on November 30, 2024.
Archie Jones has netted 10 goals in nine appearances for 1879 since making his debut and scoring in a 2-0 victory at Pwllheli on January 18, 2025.