NWCFA DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Phoenix win epic battle at leaders Kinmel Bay, six on road for Llanrug

NWCFA DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE – REPORTS MARCH 15

EAST DIVISION

Kinmel Bay Development 4 Penmaenmawr Phoenix Development 5

A nine-goal thriller at Y Morfa on Sunday saw Penmaenmawr recover from 3-0 down to make it 10 straight wins with a tremendous result against leaders Kinmel Bay.

Phoenix cut the gap on Bay to two points with the same number of games played. It was also Kinmel Bay’s first league loss since they went down 3-2 last November – at Penmaenmawr.

In extremely tough conditions, Pen found themselves two-down inside the opening 15 minutes, Nyal Hughes striking first before providing the assist for Jacob Jones to net the second.

With a makeshift defence due to injuries, suspensions and player unavailability, it was always going to be a big ask for the Phoenix lads that started.

Kinmel Bay had Harley Wood red-carded on 26 minutes, but a Jacob Jones penalty after 32 made it 3-0 to the hosts.

However, this young Pen Men side showed tremendous grit, determination and desire.

Just before half-time, Man of the Match Harry Lee Birchall pulled one back to give his team a lifeline going into the break.

A change of shape at half-time by the visitors to play more directly paid immediate dividends. Just one minute into the second half, substitute Benn Lundstram finished from a delightful Morgan Roberts cross to make it 3–2 and spark the comeback.

Kinmel began to crumble defensively and even after Pen were reduced to ten men following a straight red card for Meilir Evans, Phoenix were the side on the front foot.

In the 70th minute, Morgan Roberts stepped up and delivered a superb free-kick to level the game at 3–3.

The Pen Men kept pressing and in the 79th minute Birchall turned the Kinmel defence inside out before curling a beautiful strike into the top corner to complete the turnaround.

Sensing more goals were there for the taking, the Phoenix continued to push forward.

A perfectly weighted through ball from Harley Farr found Benn Lundstram, who turned his marker and slotted calmly into the bottom corner to make it 5–3.

Kinmel Bay pulled one back in the 85th minute through Harry Woodfine, but it proved to be too little, too late as the young visitors saw the game out for a huge 5–4 victory.

Glan Conwy Development 5 Prestatyn Wanderers Development 1

Jack Martins (2), Jack Boyle, Ryan Boyle and Franky Gughrill shared the goals in Glan’s 5-1 win over Wanderers, Jack Gibbon replying with a penalty.

CPD Henllan Development 1 St Asaph Development 6

Osian Barton (3), Logan Bailey (2) and Macauley Lewis guided Saints into a 6-0 lead at Top Park before Morgan Jones nabbed a late consolation for Henllan.

Mochdre Sports Development 2 Prestatyn Sports Development 2

All-square at Go Goodwins Stadium, Jac Thomas putting Mochdre ahead before Kris Owen levelled, but Riley Cranham nudged the hosts back in front on the stroke of half time.

David Zmiarowski hit back on 63 minutes to earn Prestatyn a point in this battle of the Sports.

WEST DIVISION

Nantlle Vale Development 2 Llanrug United Development 6

Caio Edwards and Owain Jones delivered a double apiece, while Padrig Hickey was also on target for Llanrug in this emphatic success at Maes Dulyn.

Jac Lewis and Callum McDonnell responded for Nantlle, who twice pulled back to level in the first half, but fell away in the second 45.