MATCH OF THE NIGHT: Y Rhyl 1879 3 Holywell Town 1 – dramatic turnaround blazes Lilywhites to victory
JD CYMRU NORTH – DECEMBER 5, 2025
CPD Y Rhyl 1879 3 (A Jones 58, Parry 66, 71)
Holywell Town 1 (Breese 56)
Dave Jones reports live from The Hops and Barley Community Stadium
The worst thing Holywell did in this match from their point of view was take the lead!
After being the dominant side for much of the opening 55 minutes, the Wellmen edged in front through the ever-prolific Jamie Breese.
Given the fact Town are second in the table and were unbeaten away from home this season, many inside the Hops and Barley Community Stadium felt Johnny Haseldin’s side might go on to win comfortably.
But what a turnaround was in store!
Hardly a minute after conceding, the determined Lilywhites equalised and then quickly added two more to take control.
The home fans were ecstatic at the sight of seeing the team produce arguably their best performance yet under Paul Moore’s management.
Three goals in 13 thrilling minutes earned three deserved points for the hosts, who edged up to eighth in the table.
Earlier in the season, Rhyl became the first team to take a point off Holywell, and in the return match the Denbighshire coast outfit crushed the Wellmen’s unbeaten away record.
In atrocious weather conditions, Holywell did most of the first half attacking, although Rhyl did find the net following a slick move, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Alex Swindell, excellent between the sticks for the hosts, did well to block after a swift turn and shot from Breese in the area.
On the half hour, Craig Lindfield’s overhead kick via a Jack Sconce cross flew over. Sconce then forced Swindell to push his left-foot strike out for a corner.
Breese looked set to run clear and score but delayed his effort too long, then Swindell came up with a magnificent reaction stop from a Tom Bibby header via a Sconce corner.
HALF-TIME: 0-0
After a fairly even start to the second half, Breese edged the visitors ahead on 56 minutes with his 17th goal of the campaign – a neat finish from a slight angle.
The response from Rhyl was magnificent.
Around a minute after falling behind, Archie Jones drilled home the equaliser after being found in space with Town calling for offside.
Breese blasted just wide before in the 66th minute Jones raced into the box before slipping the ball to Jack Parry, who administered the most comfortable of finishes.
Then on 71, Holywell were caught napping at the back, a careless Ryan Austin pass picked up by Jones, who released Parry, and the former Flint Mountain front man finished clinically from inside the box for his fourth goal in three games.
Holywell tried to rally, but came up against strong home defending and indeed with greater composure the Lilywhites could have increased their lead before the end.
ATTENDANCE: 349
CPD Y RHYL 1879
Alex Swindell, Leo Latter, Billy Holmes, Tom Kemp, Reece Fairhurst (c), Rocco Hewitt, Morgan Murray, Ben Lightfoot, Jack Parry, James Farr, Archie Jones. Subs Used: Damase Kiwanda, Lewis Hodson, Daniel Wood, Paul Fleming.
HOLYWELL TOWN
John Danby, Danny Sullivan, Thomas Bibby, Craig Lindfield, Jake Cooke, Ryan Austin, Zak Kempster-Down, James Stead, Jamie Breese, Jack Sconce, Ryan Edwards. Subs used: Thomas Weir, Oliver Buckley, Caelan McGovern, Harrison Doleman.