MATCH OF THE DAY 1: Skippy v CPD Gronant – North East Wales League Division 3

With so many new faces at Gronant, there was only one place to be this afternoon – beautiful Bellevue Park in Wrexham.

We’ve got TWO reports for you – one from our regular correspondent SHAUN BEST and the other from CPD Gronant themselves. Spoiled for choice!

Skippy 1
CPD Gronant 4

Report: Shaun Best

There were goals and fireworks aplenty at Bellevue Park as CPD Gronant defeated Skippy for the fourth time this season.

With Gronant having racked up three victories over the Wrexham based outfit already in league and cup, plus 36 goals registered alone in those three matches, today was certainly never going to be a stalemate!

It was a case of friends reunited, with both teams locking horns for the second time in successive weeks.

Gronant’s Ashley Andrews took some time to find his range when he saw a chipped effort then a diving header sail over the bar.

The first goal finally arrived on 20 minutes. Skippy goalkeeper Liam Jones did well to keep out an initial effort, but the home side’s defenders failed to clear and Thomas Bamber eventually knocked the ball in from close range.

One could be forgiven for thinking the floodgates were about to open, but Gronant were constantly outfoxed by the offside flag. When Bamber finally sprung the trap, his pull back for teammate Kallum Pierce only needed a small touch, but the frontman’s effort was too deft and Skippy were given a let off.

Liam Jones continued to frustrate Pierce when he blocked two one on one efforts with his feet. Bamber had earlier been denied a penalty when he rode a challenge in the box and stayed on his feet.

When Jayden Jones made contact with his foot, this time Bamber went down and Gronant were awarded a penalty. Andrews calmly dispatched the spot kick to double Gronant’s advantage.

Jayden Jones quickly made up for his error when he headed an inch perfect cross in at the far post to halve Skippy’s deficit right before the interval.

Skippy started the second half the much brighter side. Kian Tudor threaded Scott Ratcliffe through, but he ran into trouble and a subsequent corner led to nothing. Tudor then tried an ambitious effort from distance which crept over the bar, before Ratcliffe again found himself in a promising position, only to shoot weakly into Richard Hillier-Evans’s gloves.

Gronant weathered the storm and attempted to regain control of the game. Pierce picked the pocket of a defender, rounded Jones and unselfishly pulled back for substitute Harry Hayes to balloon over.

A third Gronant goal then arrived in scrappy fashion. Jones failed to collect a high ball in the area and was left in no man’s land enabling Liam Brown to bundle it over the line.

It was end to end stuff. Scott Ratcliffe again found himself clear, only to hesitate at the crucial point, allowing Hillier-Evans to run out and block.

Gronant went back on the attack. Pierce released Bamber who scampered clear and flashed wide, before Skippy substitute Tony Ratcliffe spun his marker and forced Hillier-Evans to acrobatically tip his effort round the post. From the resulting corner, Kirk Ratcliffe rose highest to head over from a promising position.

Pierce was having a frustrating afternoon. He rounded Jones in goal once more, only to see Skippy captain Daniel Bolton thwart his effort with a timely goal line clearance. Pierce kept going and sent an inviting ball across the box, but no teammate could get on the end of the delivery.

Gronant sealed the victory late on when Hayes’s cross was headed in on the line by substitute Jonathan Mee. Raised tensions saw both benches briefly erupt onto the pitch and the game was temporarily halted.

When play resumed, Hillier-Evans again put his body on the line to deny Scott Ratcliffe a route to goal.

Scott’s frustration boiled over when he got involved with Gronant’s Matthew Lewis over the taking of a quick free kick for the away side. Another shoving match and kerfuffle ensued resulting in both men being given their marching orders.

The final whistle quickly sounded, but sporting integrity resumed with everybody shaking hands and rightly leaving their frustrations on the field.

Skippy will be glad to see the back of Gronant, who leapfrog them in the table with their second league victory of the season.

 Attendance: 25

GRONANT REPORT

Gronant win ugly tie against improved Skippy

Gronant travelled to Skippy today when Deeside unfortunately had to pull out of the original fixture for personal reasons.

Both teams started well, each trying to play football which is great to see. Deadlock was nearly broken when Tom Bamber was sent through by a Liam Brown ball but was unfortunately judged offside by the ref.

In the 20th minute the deadlock was broken when Matty Lewis danced his way into the box and set up Deiniol Bowers who forced the keeper into a great save, but the rebound found Tom Bamber who smashed the ball home.

The next 20 minutes was all Gronant but they just couldnt get the ball in the net, missing several chances before Skippy broke through and looked to be one on one with keeper Richard Hillier-Evans, but an Arron Querci tackle stopped the attack.

In the 45th minute Bamber broke through and was hacked down in the box. Up stepped the captain Ashley Andrews and he sent the keeper the wrong way.

Just before the first half whistle came Skippy got one back via a corner which was headed in at the back post by Jayden Jones.

Half time 2-1 Gronant

Half time talk by gaffers Sandy Malone and James Sweetman got the visitors up and ready for the second half and their continued talking from the sides helped the players.

The introduction of new signing Jonny Mee and Shane Hayes seemed to change the game as in the 63rd Hayes played a lovely cross into the box which was headed home by Liam Brown – his first goal for the club.

Then Skippy woke up and started testing the Gronant defence with some long balls which was met by Kyle Hedge’s head or keeper Hillier-Evans’ hands.

They had a great opportunity on the 72nd minute but a smart save by Hillier-Evans pushed the effort out for a corner.

On the 80th minute Skippy broke through and it was another brilliant late challenge by Querci which stopped the attack.

Finally, in the 90th minute, great inter-lay saw Hayes whip in a cross and Mee was able to run in and head home for his first goal on debut.

A great competive game and back to back wins for a rejuvenated Gronant side.

Man of the match was given to Hillier-Evans for some fantastic saves and commanding his goal but there was equally an outstanding debut by Querci at CB.