FLASHBACK – 10 YEARS AGO: Late Mike Latham free kick ensured Gresford narrowly beat Holywell

HUWS GRAY ALLIANCE – FEBRUARY 28, 2016

Gresford Athletic 1 (Latham 86)
Holywell Town 0

Mike Latham’s late free kick won the day for Gresford in a Tier 2 Huws Gray Alliance clash played at Clappers Lane on this date 10 years ago.

The first half was a tight affair, Mike Platt doing well to punch the ball clear with Gresford attacker Latham ready to pounce.

With half an hour gone, Town’s Graeme Williams broke down the left and beat his marker before putting in a great cross. Phil Lloyd got a shot in, but Jon Hill-Dunt in between the sticks for the home side saved well.

Just before the break Lloyd brought out another good save from Hill-Dunt but the linesman had his flag up for offside.

HALF-TIME: Gresford Athletic 0 Holywell Town 0

For the second half, Holywell manager Johnny Haseldin brought on Brady McGilloway and Connor Littler for Graeme Williams and Tom Rowlands and the new pair made an impact giving the Wellmen further attacking options.

Again, Platt was forced to punch the ball clear from a dangerous Gresford cross. Around the hour mark, the Wellmen had a spell of pressure in the Gresford half, but Hill-Dunt was strong and dealt with everything thrown at him.

Entering the final 10 minutes, Athletic’s Sam Richardson broke clear but his shot went wide of Platt’s post.

With barely a few minutes left, Gresford won a free kick on the edge of the Town penalty box. Latham took aim and let go a shot which flew low into the bottom corner of Platt’s goal.

Town did have one last chance to equalise. Steve Thomas’ free kick into the box was met by Lloyd but his header went over the bar and tsoon after, the referee blew for full time.

A disappointing result for the Wellmen and in all fairness, a draw would have been a fair reflection on the game and to both sides.

WHAT ELSE HAPPENED THAT SEASON?

• Holywell Town finished up fifth in the Cymru Alliance in 2015-16, with Gresford Athletic just three points behind in sixth.

• Holywell beat Gresford 4-0 at home in the reverse league fixture in November 2015, Steve Lewis scoring a hat-trick and Tom McElmeel adding a penalty.