FLASHBACK – 10 YEARS AGO: Holywell dish out high fives in win over Conwy Borough

HUWS GRAY ALLIANCE LEAGUE: DECEMBER 19, 2015

Holywell Town 5 (McGilloway 3, Littler 20, 41 & 70, J Jones 70)
Conwy Borough 2 (Robinson 10, Alvarado 29)

Report: Steve Roberts

Connor Littler scored a hat-trick and young Brady McGilloway netted his first goal for the club as Holywell went nap at Halkyn Road on this date 10 years ago.

The game started brilliantly for the Wellmen with McGilloway opening his Town account by slotting home past Louie Mackin after being put through on goal in just the third minute.

The home celebrations were fairly short-lived as on 10 minutes, Conwy equalised through Luke Robinson.

The goal gave the visitors confidence to look for another and they put a lot of pressure on the Wellmen back-line, which coped well. After withstanding the barrage for a short while, the hosts took the lead again.

A great ball up to Phil Lloyd saw him run into the box and cross to the centre, where Littler’s header met with a great save from Mackin. The ball fell to Tony Roebuck, whose effort was kept out again, but Littler was there to tap home.

Yet again, Conwy rallied as Andreas Alvarado equalised on 29 minutes, shooting the ball into the net via a ricochet off Mike Platt’s leg.

With a couple of minutes left of the first half, Town edged ahead once more through Littler, who unleashed a great shot from fully 30 yards which flew into the top corner.

HALF TIME: Holywell Town 3 Conwy Borough 2

The second half started with Town putting pressure on Conwy’s goal, and Littler rose well to head a Steve Thomas corner but his goalbound effort was blocked on the line by a defender.

A few minutes later, however, Johnny Haseldin’s men increased their lead. The Wellmen won a corner and the ball was played in towards the far post where Tom McElmeel headed back towards the centre and Jonathon Jones was on hand to nod in off a defender to claim his first goal in a Holywell shirt.

Lloyd then broke through and his cross was only inches away from Littler before Conwy’s Andrew Brown’s free kick flew over Platt’s crossbar.

With 70 minutes on the clock, Littler grabbed his third. Running and seeing the keeper off his line, he lobbed Mackin from over 25 yards to claim his first hat trick for the team.

Sub Graeme Williams was tripped in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped McElmeel but he watched in horror as his spot kick flew over Mackin’s bar.

Lloyd then attempted a deft chip over the keeper seeing him off his line, but it fell the wrong side of the post.

The referee blew for full time shortly afterwards and despite the awful wet conditions, Holywell played really impressively and fully deserved the points.

WHAT ELSE HAPPENED THAT SEASON?

• Conwy and Holywell drew 1-1 at Y Morfa in the reverse league fixture.
• Holywell finished fifth in the Cymru Alliance with Borough down in 11th.
• Town’s top-scorer this season was Steve Lewis with 13 goals.