FLASHBACK – 10 years ago: Flint are comfortable winners over Holywell in Christmas derby

CYMRU ALLIANCE LEAGUE – DECEMBER 28, 2015

Flint Town United 3 (Beck 18, Cunningham 60, Hill 70)
Holywell Town 0

Report: Steve Roberts of Holywell Town FC – with thanks

On this date 10 years ago Flint were deserved winners of a Christmas derby in front of their biggest gate of the season, with 740 packing into Cae y Castell.

The Silkmen put on most of the early pressure which saw Mike Platt saving well at the feet of new signing Shaun Beck, who returned to the Flint side from Greenfield in time for the game.

It was the prolific Beck who opened the scoring on 18 minutes as his looping header beat Platt to give the home side the lead.

Midway through the half, Flint’s Phil Clarke saw his attempted lob over Platt fall just wide of the post before an Aden Shannon strike flew over the bar.

Paul Williams hit a shot just off target for the visitors before Platt produced a great flying save to prevent Clarke doubling the home side’s lead on 42 minutes.

Half-time: Flint 1-0 Holywell

The second half saw Holywell trying to get back into the game and Phil Lloyd had a brilliant effort saved by Ross Dalton.

The keeper pushed the ball away to safety with the Wellmen supporters behind the goal thinking the shot was flying into the top corner.

That save was the turning point in the game as a few minutes later, the home side went two-up through Steve Cunningham, whose shot hit the back of the net via Platt’s right hand post to double the Silkmen’s lead.

That net-finder killed off the game and 10 minutes later, the hosts added a third when John Hill fired across goal find the bottom corner with Platt beaten to give the black and whites all three points.

Town had their best chance of the afternoon as a good move down the left saw Paul Williams lay the ball off to sub Graeme Williams, whose rocket lashed against the post.

A few minutes later, Dafydd Griffith had a header cleared off the line from a Steve Thomas corner, before Steve Lewis’ header flew over via a flag-kick from the left.

Flint pressed on for a fourth, but the score remained 3-0 to the home side and the crowd left Cae y Castell knowing the best side on the day won the match.

WHAT ELSE HAPPENED THAT SEASON?

• Flint finished ninth in the Cymru Alliance with Holywell ending the season in fifth spot
  

• Holywell beat Flint 2-1 in the reverse league fixture at Halkyn Road