JD CYMRU NORTH: Dramatic comeback earns Llandudno victory at 10-man Buckley
JD CYMRU NORTH
Buckley Town 2 (Mariette 56, Knight 65)
Llandudno 3 (Adam Stephens 75 & 89; Proctor 90+2)
REPORT: SHAUN BEST
Llandudno staged a magnificent comeback from two goals down to defeat 10 man Buckley Town 3-2.
Friday nights at The Globe have staged some memorable games during the course of the season. This one was no different, with all five goals arriving during an action packed second half. The referee also had a busy night dishing out more cards than a staff member at a branch of Clinton’s!
Llandudno came into the game boasting an impressive rearguard record, having conceded just the one goal in the nine league games prior.
The visitors enjoyed large periods of dominance during the first half. Mark Cadwallader burst clear, forcing sprightly goalkeeper Chris Roberts, the assistant-manager fielded in an emergency due to a keeper shortage at the club, to sprint out of goal. The 40-year-old got in a crucial leg first to block the shot and send the ball ricocheting to safety.
Llandudno found plenty of joy attacking down the right flank, but lacked the decisive final ball. The Buckley defence almost had the shirt off Aidan Higgins’ back as the youngster sprinted into the box and went close.
Moments later, Harvey Bennett’s low cross was turned over the bar by a defensive clearance. Ben Maher then sent a free kick inches over the bar and Ross Weaver saw a header cleared off the line. The hosts were relieved to go into the break still level.
Half time clearly disrupted Llandudno’s momentum. Right from the restart, a ball over the top released Buckley’s Max Moore, but a poor touch showed too much of the ball to visiting goalkeeper Michael Jones, who rushed out to clear.
Jones was a little slower clearing a defensive pass and the ball went out. From Adam Boydell’s resulting corner, Luke Mariette flicked the ball past Jones to give the hosts the lead somewhat against the run of play.
A shell shocked Llandudno then found themselves 2-0 down when Bradley Knight met a delivery to roll the ball past Jones.
On 72 minutes, Buckley’s Nicholas Grogan collected a second booking for a bad tackle on Bennett, subsequently ending both players’ evenings. The dismissal proved to be the game’s turning point.
When play restarted and from the ensuing free kick, Adam Stephens turned in Jordan Pownall’s delivery to reduce Llandudno’s arrears.
Buckley had 15 minutes to hang on and their resolve lasted until the final two. Stephens was in the right place at the right time, smashing the ball into the roof of the net from close range after Buckley failed to clear their lines.
Then, two minutes into stoppage time, substitute Dylan Proctor netted the winner. Llandudno crucially found the killer touch with their final ball as Proctor mopped up from close range after Roberts failed to cut out a low ball into the box.
The win maintained Llandudno’s promotion push, with Buckley remaining in mid table.