MATCH OF THE DAY: Llandudno football legend Danny Hughes clinches derby with 92nd minute decider

NORTH WALES COAST EAST LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION – MARCH 14, 2026

Llandudno Junction 1 (Bryan Roberts 27)
Llandudno Amateurs 2 (Lee Thomas 23, Daniel Hughes 90+2)

Report: SHAUN BEST

A last gasp winner gave Llandudno Amateurs bragging rights and a vital win against local rivals Llandudno Junction at the Flyover.

The victory keeps Amateurs firmly in the top two of the North Wales Coast East League Premier Division.

Lee Thomas proved that age is nothing but a number. The veteran rolled back the years with a vintage performance, as he scored one and made the all-important winner.

Thomas – wearing the unique ‘99’ shirt number made a less than auspicious start to the game when he scooped the first chance over the bar. Both teams tried to create an opening, but found the offside flag to be a recurring and frustrating theme for a portion of the first half.

Junction defender Daniel Roberts timed his slide to perfection to nick the ball from Anthony Tidswell, who thought he had a clear run at goal. His disappointment didn’t last long, as Amateurs took the lead from a corner kick. Danny Hughes sent a low cross into the box and Thomas met the ball at the near post with a magnificent header – 1-0.

Amateurs were pegged back within four minutes when Bryan Roberts bent a low free kick past the wall and into the bottom corner. Goalkeeper Kyle King was rooted to the spot.

The game suddenly burst into life and became an end to end affair. Joseph Jones sent a free header wide of the post for the visitors, while Junction’s Jack Nettleton didn’t put enough postage on his header when he connected with Gregory Hall’s looping cross.

Junction breathed a huge sigh of relief when Amateurs failed to capitalise on sloppy play in the box and the ball was cleared following a goal line scramble. Junction’s Tomos Rhys-Williams then rounded King, only to run wide and into defensive traffic. He picked out Nettleton, who ended up rolling the ball inches wide.

Early in the second half, Nettleton burst clear, but put too much sauce on his chip and the ball sailed over towards the neighbouring playground.

The game was there for the taking. Daniel Prince’s missed lunge to cut out a pass left Danny Hughes in space out wide. The visiting attacker was in two minds what to do and his cross turned shot evaded everyone as it whistled past the post.

Aaron Rogers threaded through for Thomas, only for home goalkeeper Cain Folly to rush out and trap the ball between his thighs.

Moments later, Folly picked up on Joseph Jones’s hesitation from a one-on-one position and picked his pocket before booting the ball clear.

Bryan Roberts failed to replicate his earlier heroics, as he watched King turn a late free kick round his near post.

Two minutes into stoppage time, Amateurs struck the killer blow. This time, Thomas turned provider by feeding Hughes, who poked a low shot under Folly from close range.

A jubilant Amateurs bench poured onto the pitch in celebration. This could end up being a key result in the title race when all is said and done with the season.

QUESTION….

What has today’s match-winner Danny Hughes done in a Llandudno FC shirt that no other player for that club has ever achieved?

He scored the Seasiders’ only goal in Europe in a 2-1 home defeat against IFK Göteborg of Sweden in the 2016-17 UEFA Europa League competition. The match was played at Nantporth Stadium, Bangor, on July 7, 2016. Göteborg won 7-1 over two legs.