Holywell Town 2-1 Gwlachmai

Holywell Town 2-1 Gwalchmai
Cookson Cup Quarter Final
Wednesday 20th February 2013

Holywell Town welcomed Gwalchmai to Halkyn Road on a bitterly cold night for the Quarter Final tie of the Cookson Cup. Town were without Ian Griffiths and Marc Gunther who were suspended, John Shepherd who was injured and Mark Orme who was cup tied.

The game started brightly as both teams tried to take control of the game. The first real chance fell to Holywell Town. A Steve Thomas cross on 7 minutes was whipped into the box and Gwalchmai keeper Kenny Hughes missed the ball and it flew over him but Danny Sullivan and Barry Calder were not expecting the ball to reach them and despite only needing a touch, the ball eluded them and went out for a goal kick.

Gwalchmai’s first chance came on 13 minutes. A good ball through from midfield had Marc Evans on the chase, but Ashley Durham chased back and put in a great tackle to prevent Evans getting his shot in. A few minutes later, another chance fell Holywell’s way after Barry Calder saw his shot saved by Hughes after a good ball in from Sullivan.

With 22 minutes on the clock, Gwalchmai won a free kick in a dangerous position. The kick taken by Gerallt Jones was only parried by Danny Stanton in the Wellmen’s goal, and Mark Griffiths reacted the quickest and slotted the ball into the net only for Assistant Dean Morris to raise his flag for offside. A few minutes later though, the visitors took the lead. Mark Griffiths broke into the box and his lay off was met by Corey Sinnott who’s shot ended up in the top corner of Stanton’s goal to gift the visitors the lead.

More chances fell Holywell’s way for the remainder of the half but were unable to provide the killer touch as Steve Thomas and Sullivan both had chances to score, which meant the Visitors had a one goal lead at the break.

Town needed a early goal after the restart, and luckily enough, it came through Danny Sullivan. A cross in from the right was inch perfect for Sullivan, who’s header beat Kenny Hughes with the keeper well beaten. A few minutes later, Williams put in another good cross but Hughes saved well from another Sullivan header.

Midway through the second half, Gwalchmai’s Mark Griffiths again put the ball into the net but again, the Assistant raised his flag for offside, and much to the annoyance of the visiting team, the decision stood and the scores remained level at a goal apiece. Matty Roberts, who was having a great game, kept running at the Gwalchmai defence and put in some good crosses but unfortunate for Town, Sullivan and Thomas could not convert the chances that fell their way.

With extra time looming and temperatures plummeting, both teams were looking for the decisive 3rd goal and in the 78th minute, Town took the lead. A corner which was swung in by Roberts found the head of Sullivan who headed back across the face of the goal. The ball deflected off Tony Roebuck and Steve Thomas was on hand to poke the ball home through a crowd of bodies in the penalty area to give Town the lead.

Danny Stanton had to be alert to punch clear a great ball in from the left by Gerallt Jones with Marc Evans looming then Tom Carney could have put the game beyond the reach of Gwalchmai as a good ball in by Thomas found the unmarked Carney who was running in at goal but his first time shot flew inches wide of Hughes’ post.

The game ended 2-1 to Town and a difficult Semi game at Bodedern on Saturday 2nd March, where we will be looking to book our place in the final which will be held at Conwy on Wednesday 27th March.