Match of the Day: Mynydd Isa 3 Bethesda Athletic 6 (Ardal North West)

ARDAL NORTH WEST – SATURDAY, AUGUST 30

Mynydd Isa 3 (Kieran Jones 53, Samuel Wainwright 83, pen 84)
Bethesda Athletic 6 (Sion Bullock 4, Daniel Hughes 36, 39, Osian Hughes 50, 66, Kyle Hartleb 71)

REPORT: SHAUN BEST

Game of the day in Ardal North West saw Bethesda Athletic climb the table following a thrilling 6-3 victory at Mynydd Isa.

Brothers Daniel and Osian Hughes each bagged a brace for the visitors at a wet and windy Argoed Sports & Social Club.

Bethesda also withstood the late dismissal of goalkeeper Gethin Hughes to net their second league victory of the season.

In the battle between two promoted sides, it was the visitors who were quick to stamp their authority on the game.

Home goalkeeper Elliot Quinlan needed his fingertips to push a Daniel Hughes effort round the post.

From the resulting corner, Osian Hughes’s flick on was headed in by Sion Bullock.

Bethesda continued to cause problems from corners. Another Joe Todd delivery saw Osian Hughes’s header strike a post then a defender, but claims for a handball were waved away.

Todd almost doubled the advantage when he powered into the box, only to see his effort hit the top of the crossbar.

However, a second goal soon arrived when Quinlan pushed a free kick into the path of Daniel Hughes, who swept the ball in.

Moments later, Daniel Hughes latched onto a through ball from his brother, running clear of his marker and knocking the ball in. The frontman certainly looks to be back to his best after spending much of last season out with a serious injury.

Half-time: 0-3

Osian Hughes got in on the scoring after the break, rising highest in the box to head in from a Corey Lundstram cross.

Isa substitute Kieran Jones pulled a goal back when he was played into space and calmly slotted in with the outside of his boot.

Thoughts of game on were quickly extinguished when Osian Hughes matched his brother’s earlier double by netting a fifth team goal.

The Bethesda captain was left unmarked in the box and rifled the ball into the top corner. Five quickly became six when substitute Kyle Hartleb ran clear and coolly tucked the ball away.

Much to their credit, Isa dug in and Samuel Wainwright sent a free kick in off the post from the edge of the box.

A minute later, Bethesda goalkeeper Hughes was given his marching orders after he was adjudged to have caught an Isa player when he came to punch the ball. The referee went to his assistant to rubber stamp his decision.

Wainwright stepped up to send makeshift shot stopper Noa Hughes the wrong way to further reduce the home arrears.

Despite the numerical disadvantage it was Bethesda who almost netted again right at the end, but Hartleb saw a one on one smartly saved by Quinlan.

The 68 in attendance had been treated to an entertaining game and a terrific advert for Welsh football.

Mynydd Isa
Elliot Quinlan, Dan Wright, Mark Atkinson, Dan Wainwright, Lewis Tudor, Sam Jones, Jay Wiles, Sam Wainwright, Nathan Mendoza, Ross Walker, Dylan Roberts
Subs used: Kieran Jones, George Davies, Dane Shorrock, Harry Lambert.

Bethesda Athletic
Gethin Hughes, Osian Price, Steffan Davies, Osian Hughes, Cian Williams, Noa Hughes, Sion Bullock, Joe Todd, Daniel Hughes, Corey Lundstram, Louie Turner.
Subs used: Cai Evans, Kyle Hartleb, Cameron Roberts