Match report: Ardal North West – Trearddur Bay make it 11 unbeaten and remain three points clear

ARDAL NORTH WEST – NOVEMBER 7

Llay Welfare 2 (Bryan 75, King 88)
Trearddur Bay 4 (O Hughes 8 & 45+2 pen, N Hughes 22, T Hughes 90+6)

Report: Hywel Pritchard

Ardal North West leaders Trearddur Bay stretched their unbeaten run to 11 league matches with a hard-earned victory over an in-form Llay Welfare side at The Ring.

Having suffered a rare defeat in midweek when losing 4-0 at Holyhead Hotspur in the North Wales Coast Challenge Cup, Paul Pritchard’s side bounced back with a determined performance where the surname Hughes filled all the scoresheet entries.

Nonetheless, the Beach Boys had to survive a late scare to claim a dramatic 4–2 triumph.

The visitors started with intent and were quickly in control after the opening whistle. The early pressure paid dividends after just 8 minutes when Osian Hughes found the back of the net to break the deadlock.

Bay maintained their relentless tempo and doubled their advantage in the 22nd minute, Noa Hughes scoring his 5th goal of the season, putting the visitors firmly in the driving seat.

Deep into first-half injury time, the afternoon looked completely wrapped up when Bay were awarded a spot-kick. Osian Hughes stepped up coolly to convert the penalty, bagging his second of the match and 13th goal of the campaiign to send the visitors into the break with a commanding 3–0 advantage.

The second half looked to be a comfortable affair for the Beach Boys until Llay introduced substitute Sam Bryan in the 73rd minute, completely turning the game on its head. Just two minutes after coming on, Bryan found the net to pull one back for the hosts.

Sensing a comeback, Llay piled on the pressure, and in the 88th minute, Bryan turned provider, setting up J J King to fire home and reduce the deficit to 3–2. The Wrexham-area side now threatened to take a share of the points.

The tension escalated even further deep into injury time when Osian Hughes, who had been subbed, picked up his second yellow card for a touchline infringement.

However, in the 96th minute, the points were finally secured when substitute Tomos Hughes made it 4–2, keeping Bay’s three point cushion at the top of the league.