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Big 3 points on the road at Penrhyncoch

21st March 2010

The long away trip to mid Wales Penrhyncoch saw a happy bus return with all 3 points and deservedly so.

Starting lineup: Shannhan, Jones G, Gibbs, Austin, Mitchell, Willams R, Williams C, Gowans, Gwynedd, Thomas, Roberts DG, bench: Craven, Robrets K, Lloyd, Evans (nursing a sore knee) and Pearson (nearly back to fitness) On a fine but windy day we kicked up their sloping pitch which was still good but soft after the heavy overnight rain.

From the start we pushed on with Gowans going close in the opening 2 minutes but the ball hit the keeper's legs to go for a corner. We played a fairly high line again and on the smaller pitch this constricted the play and with their youth and pace in mind in the middle we knocked it wide and longer than normal. It got very physical very early, a kick at Robbie Williams saw him typically respond in the next tackle with a crunching reply that earned him howls of protest from the stand and a yellow card. Shortly followed by the Penrhyn player for a reckless kick back at him. Yws Gwynedd took a very bad two footed off the ground tackle and his immediate retaliation earned both players yellow cards. We are not known as an overly physical side, but when it does get that way our players will respond in kind and if you dish it out you have to be able to take it too.

We forced several corners and free kicks from which we would expect to get something but the keeper dealt well with them all and was well protected too.As the half wore on Penrhyn came more into it, with their young quick and skilful wide players causing a lot of problems down the flanks and resulting in a number of edge of the box free kciks; these were well marshalled and loose ones cleared up by the keeper. Evans caught the eye for the home team, a great first touch, quick turns and layoffs bringing some frantic tackles at times and late in the half his powereful 30 yarder was well saved by Shannahan. 0-0 at the break, but a slow interrupted half assisted by only 2 balls, few ball retrievers and lengthy delays at all set kicks/throws - a tactic, who knows?

2nd half we came out surprisingly quickly and caught them cold in the 'dressing room' , Shannahan found Austin who's through ball to Danny Glyn saw him turn his defender and play a great wide left wing ball to the racing Chris Williams, he took it in his stride and crossed a perfect left footer to the approaching Darren Thomas to head home from 8 yards and open the scoring on 50 minutes. This set them back and enabled us to open up our flowing, passing game. With good work from Robbie Williams to find Gowans, his ball out to Darren Thomas and his vision to spot the keeper off his line and strike a superb shot home for the 2nd goal on the hour. In control from front to back more good work down the left by Chris Williams again brought Darren in to hit another goal over the stranded keeper and settle the game at 3-0. Craven came on for Jones (who had anothe excellent game at the back), followed by Kev Roberts and Kev Lloyd for Gowans and Gwynedd who had both run their legs off all game. More chances came but against the run on 80 minutes a wide right ball to Evans where he beat his man, we missed a tackle and his shot through a crowd took a deflection past Shannahan. This gave them a bit of heart and although tired they came back with a couple of half chances, with drama on 90 minutes when their keeper took a free kcik from wide in his own half, his superbly struck shot flew in the top corner for the ref to give a goal, but the linesman pointed out he had indicated an indirect free kick and no one had touched it. and the game ened at 3-1.

Good to come away to a top 6 side and take all 3 points and Penrhyn are a good well organised team who will win more than they lose, and have yet to come to our place seeking revenge. Well done to Lee and Ian who edged the tactics battle today and greta composure from the players early on when things got a bit rough, they bided tgheir time and got their just desserts and a hatrick for Daz Thomas

Big win at the start of our season defining week with all our rivals also winning, bound to be changes as all 4 play each other this week.

Shared spoils 1-1

7th March 2010

The big home tie with close promotion rivals Llandudno ended all square at 1-1. After the euphoria of last week at Buckley it was back to basics and at the start of the week we would have taken a draw, but with Llandudno missing key players through mid week dismissals, perhaps we could have done better.

Lineup Shannahan, Williams C, Gibbs, Austin, Mitchell, Higham, Williams R, Thomas, Evans, Craven, Gwynedd, Subs, Roberts DG, Roberts K, Gowans, Lloyd

A firm pitch and a bright, sunny footballing day with us kicking down first half and starting brightly enough. We forced three of four corners, which the visitors cleared comfortably but on 17 minutes one fell into a melee of players with Yws Gwynedd reacting quickly to score close in to put us 1 up. This looked like the kick start we needed, but Llandudno defended with passion and physically changed the game to making it narrow and forcing gaps as we played a lot deeper than usual. With both defences looking strong under pressure, the game was played between the 18 yard boxes with both sets of midlfielders scrapping for every ball and neither keeper was unduly troubled, but many fouls went unpunished whilst niggly technical infringements were dealt with harshly, half time was 1-0.

Much the same in the 2nd half Shannahan had a couple of long shots to catch, whilst Whitfield held a stinging 30 yarder from Loggs and Danny Glyn on for Craven half volleyed the only other chance wide. Gowans came on for Rich Higham to try and add width followed by Kev Roberts for Darren Thomas again to try to force the pace; but as the game went deep into injury time it looked like we had hung on for the points, only for almost the final kick of the game from Llandudo manager Grant Montgomery, which took a wicked deflection to elude Shannahan and tie the game at 1-1.

In honesty this was no more than we deserved as Llandudno came with a game plan, stuck to it and certainly on the 2nd half showing, deserved their point.

On a technical point the referee made some strange decisions, didn't take help from his linesmen, one of whom is a far better qualified referee and spoilt the game for both sides.

But as I opened we would have taken this earlier in the week, but having hung on until the 95th minute I thought we had come through on what must be judged as not one of our better performances.

Tied at the top with Flint same points and same goal difference with Buckley and Llandudno 12 &13 points adrift although the latter have 3 ganmes in hand. Our run in looks tough with only 2 home games, no games this week but Flint and Llandudno having 2 each could see Flint going 6 clear and Llandudno making up ground; Flint have to play both of us at some time, but overall it is in our own hands.

Cup Appeal

5th March 2010

A quick update on the appeal by Flint Town against our use of Marc Evans in the recent NWCFA cup win by us.

On Wednesday evening the NWCFA committee dismissed the appeal on a procedural technicality involving a breach of the rules; Flint do have the right to appeal to the FAW in this matter.

Due to the situation there was no opportunity for either club to submit the details of the appeal and defence, so whilst the matter is closed for now, there is no closure on the actual content regarding the eligibility of a loan player or the relevance to preliminary rounds, conference dates and the changes to such dates.

We are not able to post further details of the hearing whilst an appeal may be pending