MATCH OF THE DAY: Keiye Williams at the double in hard-fought Saltney victory

NORTH EAST WALES LEAGUE DIVISION 1 – NOVEMBER 7, 2026

Saltney Town 2 (Keiye Williams 4, 75)
Rhydymwyn 1 (Hayden Hughes 78)

REPORT: SHAUN BEST

Saltney Town inserted themselves into the NEWFA Division One promotion picture, following a 2-1 victory at home to Rhydymwyn.

Keiye Williams was at the double for Saltney, with the Bordermen recording a third straight league victory to leave them just three points off top spot and with games in hand. In contrast, Rhydymwyn remain in the bottom two, having reached the halfway point of their league campaign.

Saltney struck with just four minutes on the clock. Keiye’s namesake Sean Williams delivered a teasing in swinging corner which looked destined to nestle underneath the crossbar, prompting Keiye to arrive ahead of goalkeeper Callum Manley and power the ball in with his head. Manley appealed for a foul to no avail, as the attacking instinct from the Saltney forward won out.

The visitors continued to look vulnerable from set pieces. A corner from the opposite side met the head of Williams again, but Rhydymwyn were given a let off when a free header went into the advertising boards.

Manley flew like a bird and demonstrated excellent reflexes to tip over from Jay Wiles, after the Saltney man collected a throw in to unleash a vicious close range shot. Wiles almost turned provider for Keiye Williams, but the forward fluffed a one-on-one and shot wide.

Rhydymwyn re-emerged with more attacking purpose. Calum Simpson turned his marker and fizzed a shot over from 25 yards, before teammate Joel Griffiths saw a glancing header creep past a sea of Saltney shirts and roll agonisingly wide.

Simpson appealed for a penalty after going down under a challenge, but the referee wasn’t convinced and waved play on. Contact looked minimal and the consensus on the touchline was that the right call was made. At the other end, Saltney’s Jack Owen carved out space from a wide position and sent his effort over the bar.

With 15 minutes left to play, substitute George Jones unlocked the visiting defence to put Keiye Williams clear. The offside flag stayed down and Williams demonstrated quick feet to round Manley and slot into an empty net for his 13th goal of the season.

To their credit, Rhydymwyn instantly hit back to set up a tense finale. Saltney’s defenders were caught napping when Simpson’s free kick was turned in from close range by defender Hayden Hughes’s outstretched leg.

Late on, Saltney were penalised for a questionable pass back. Michael Hopkinson lined up and shot wide from the resulting free kick and the hosts held on to pick up maximum points.