Match of the Night: Kinmel Bay v Penmaenmawr Phoenix

GOAL! Jay Sutton (yellow and blue) scores for Pen Phoenix. Pictures: PAUL DARYL PHOTOGRAPHY – many thanks

ARDAL NORTH WEST LEAGUE – TUESDAY, AUGUST 11

Kinmel Bay 0
Penmaenmawr Phoenix 1 (Sutton 19)

Dave Jones reports from Y Morfa

Two teams which shared some great battles in Tier 4 two seasons ago met in a fiercely competitive third-tier contest on Tuesday.

Kinmel Bay and Penmaenmawr Phoenix are two clubs on the up and just a single goal separated the keen rivals at Y Morfa.

On a rock-hard surface the ball spent a lot of time in the air with conditions far from conducive to a passing game.

Players were never allowed a moment to settle on the ball and goal scoring chances as a whole were few and far between.

Phoenix looked the more dangerous in the first half, Toby Jones blasting over the bar before the only goal arrived on 19 minutes.

A foul on Daniel McIlvogue on the edge of the area led to a free kick. Logan Williams drilled a low, powerful shot which keeper James Roberts was unable to hold and Jay Sutton converted the loose ball.

Roberts needed lengthy treatment due to the melee which led to the goal.

Kinmel Bay captain Lewis Thompson looks to get away from Pen’s Toby Jones

Toby Jones’ volley was held by Roberts before a Williams cross was headed in by Sutton, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

HALF-TIME: Kinmel Bay 0 Penmaenmawr Phoenix 1

Kinmel Bay offered more in attack in the second half, but they came up against a solid Pen defence – and the visitors remained dangerous on their forays forward.

In the 57th minute Darren Evans struck a volley just wide for the Cae Sling crew.

Kinmel Bay’s Lewis Rhodes (2) tries to clear the danger

Bay upped the tempo and should have done better in the 66th minute when sub James Hay miscued a header from an Anthony Jones corner.

The home side’s closest effort came on 69 minutes. Paddy Hamid laid the ball back from the left and Tate Walker’s thunderbolt rattled the post before Jones’ attempt from the follow-up was palmed over the bar by Cameron Darling.

Pen thought they had a second when Lewis Williams’ high ball into the box was headed home by Dan Evans, but the referee called the play back for an infringement.

Lewis Thompson headed over from a Jones corner as Bay pressed for a leveller, but the away defence was overall very strong.

And Pen had a chance to seal it on 90 minutes when Toby Jones was found in space in the box, but his drive was pushed away by Roberts.

KINMEL BAY
James Roberts, Lewis Rhodes, Mason Richards, Anthony Jones, Liam Jones, Lewis Thompson (c), Nyal Hughes, Paddy Hamid, Paris Gray, Matthew Rees, Tate Walker. Subs used: Owen Davies, Harry Stubbs, Jack Gronow, James Hay, Mckenzie Slaven.

PENMAENMAWR PHOENIX
Cameron Darling, Logan Williams, Lewis Williams, Anthony Marshall, Daniel McIlvogue, Lewis Sutton, Toby Jones, Ricky Jones, Leigh Craven, Daniel Williams, Darren Evans. Subs used: Dan Evans, Ben Jarvis, Harri Williams.

ATTENDANCE 149