Match of the Day: Nine-goal thriller sees Deeside edge victory over Gronant

NORTH EAST WALES LEAGUE DIVISION 3

AFC Deeside 5 (Dayele 17, Edmonds 32 & 44, Rodrigues 45, Shallcross 85
CPD Gronant 4 (Bamber 50, Pierce 55, Garrett 68, Hennigan 85)

Report Shaun Best

Drama, tough breaks and late heartbreak were all on hand at Mold Leisure Centre, as AFC Deeside edged out CPD Gronant 5-4.

A serious injury to Deeside debutant Neo Dayele in the first half required medical assistance and the game was rightly halted for a 15 minute period.

Gronant immediately put Deeside under the cosh from the kick-off. Frankie Hennigan rounded makeshift goalkeeper Andrew Evans, but the frontman didn’t put enough postage on his corresponding shot, allowing defender Jack Willson to clear off the line.

Evans – in a change from his usual defensive duties – looked comfortable repelling Gronant’s attacks, including tipping a Matthew Lewis effort from distance around the post.

The hosts took then took the lead against the run of play. Ben Pamment’s poor defensive clearance was intercepted by Dayele, who successfully chased the ball down before slotting under Harry Hayes in the Gronant goal.

Joy soon turned to horror for 19-year-old Dayele, when he went down under a challenge for the ball.

Immediately clutching his ankle, the game was paused while Dayele was tended to and then helped off the pitch.

The injury seemed to galvanise Dayele’s teammates – especially Mauricio Rodrigues. The Portuguese youngster took the game by the scruff of the neck and was at the heart of his team’s forward play.

After teeing up Danny Edmonds to score following another defensive lapse, both players managed to chip the ‘keeper within a minute.

Rodrigues’s effort was a goal of the season contender when his attempt zipped in from just inside the Gronant half. Deeside went into the break with what looked like an unassailable 4-0 lead.

Half-time: AFC Deeside 4 CPD Gronant 0

Gronant needed to find a fast response and did exactly that, when Thomas Bamber exquisitely controlled a cross field ball in the box to slot under Evans’s legs. Kallum Pierce then put the cat amongst the pigeons when his low effort squirmed underneath Evans and trickled into the net.

Deeside were evidently nervy and failed to take advantage of a two on one situation on goal. Hayes was at his best, using all of his instincts to thwart two attempts and keep his side in the game.

At the other end, Bamber rounded Evans and shot over from a tight angle. Bamber quickly redeemed himself and was the architect for a third goal. His cross caught Evans and the Deeside defence cold, enabling substitute Luke Elden to cushion the ball into Michael Garrett’s path for an easy tap in.

Gronant sought an equaliser and very nearly got it. Pierce was put through, with Evans denying with his feet, then tipping over a headed rebound from the frontman.

With the visitors pouring forward, they left a hole at the back. Deeside finally found the space that they needed and Jack Shallcross coolly put the ball away for 5-3.

Hennigan’s deft touch from close range immediately reduced the arrears and stopped the fat lady from singing. Pierce then went down in a crowded box and Gronant were awarded a last minute penalty. Pierce himself stepped up, only to see his effort graze the post as the ball flew wide.

The fans in attendance were disappointed when the referee called time on what was a pulsating game.

Best wishes go out to Neo Dayele for a speedy recovery.

Attendance: 35

AFC Deeside

Andrew Evans, James Jeffrey, Jack Willson (c), Harry Willson, Danny Edmonds, Jack Shallcross, Samuel Gormley-Jakomis, Thomas Blackwell, Neo Dayele, Daniel Griffiths, Mauricio Rodrigues
Subs used: Kieren Ellams, Ivaylo Nikolov.

CPD Gronant

Harry Hayes, Kyle Hedge, Liam Rowland-Jones, Thomas Bamber, Ashley Andrews (c), Frankie Hennigan, Michael Garrett, Matthew Lewis, Martin Byast, Ben Pamment, Kallum Pierce.
Subs used: Deiniol Bower, Ian Jenkins, Luke Elden.