Wellmen through to Round 3 of Welsh Cup

Mold Alex 0-1 Holywell Town

Holywell Town made the short journey to Mold Alex in the 2nd Round of the Welsh Cup and many dubbed this match as the tie of the round.

After both teams and all at Alyn Park had observed the minutes silence for Remembernce Sunday, the game got underway and it was Mold who had the first good chance, Mike Platt producing a marvellous save to tip over Lewis Buckley’s looping header from a Dave McElnay free kick. The effort gave Mold the impetus to take the game to Town and a few minutes later, Town were indebted to Platt once again as he produced another stunning save to again deny Buckley, who’s shot was flying into the top corner.

Town’s first real effort came with 8 minutes on the clock. A great move started from the middle of the park by Tom McElmeel saw Sam Jones receive the ball just outside the area but his shot flew over the bar. Jones didn’t have long to wait however to get his name on the scoresheet as he put Town ahead just after the 10 minutes mark. A ball over the top from midfield saw Phil Lloyd run after ball, challenging with Danny Dalton, and the Mold defender seemed to swipe the ball away with his hand and the referee pointed to spot to give Town a Penalty, and Dalton picked up a yellow card. Jones blasted his spot kick past John Burns in the Mold goal to send the Town supporters wild.

The goal lifted Town and a few minutes later, Jones nearly made it two after a great move down the right and Phil Lloyd’s cross was met by Jones but his effort went wide of the goal. MOld then had an effort as Aarron Stafford headed the ball wide from a good free kick before Town went close with Phil Lloyd’s cheeky flick on fell just wide of the post after an inch perfect free kick into the box by Jones.

Mold’s Aarron Stafford had a goal disallowed before another Holywell Town attack saw a brilliant move down the right. Tom McElmeel, who was having a great game in midfield thread the ball our to Tony Roebuck who beat his man to get in a great low cross to Jones but his shot went over Burns’ crossbar to prevent Town doubling their lead. The Alex nearly equalised in the final minute of the half when Lewis Buckley broke clear and just as he was about to shoot, Dafydd Griffiths put in a last ditch tackle to block the shot and the ball fell to Oamase Kiwandra, but he was dispossessed by Paul Williams who cleared the ball to safety.

The teams came back onto the pitch after their half time teamtalk and Town started brightly with Paul Wiliams breaking clear down the right but his cross was a little too hard for the onrushing Holywell players and the ball was cleared to safety. Mold were next to have an effort with Haydn Cooper’s shot fly wide of Platt’s goal, then Dafydd Griffiths put in a solid header to clear teh ball from a dangerous MOld Free kick into the Holywell penalty area. 10 minutes into the second half, Platt was once again called into action, and produced a brilliant flying save across goal to keep out Cooper’s header. Platt injured himself in the process as his head collided with the post and after attention; he was fit to carry on.

Town were desperately looking for the killer second goal, and went close when Tom McElmeel broke clear, he passed the ball across the box to Steve Thomas who controlled the ball well before shooting and Burns produced a great block to prevent Thomas scoring. A few minutes later, Paul Williams saw his shot hit the post from a tight angle before Mold’s Thomas Murray hit a free kick wide of Platt’s goal. Another run by Phil Lloyd saw him free on goal before he was tackled well just inside the penalty area, and the ball fell to the Mold defender who lost the ball to Sam Jones just outside the area and Jones’ shot was tipped over the bar by Burns in the Mold goal. Mold were next to go close as a through ball saw captain David McElnay shoot but his effort was tipped over by Platt before Town went close again a minute later when Phil Lloyd was clean through but his shot across goal went inches past the post.

Another effort by Jones was saved by Burns after a good ball in by Steve Thomas before Mold substitute Ross Ankers was shown the red card by referee Liam Gray after a heavy tackle on Dafydd Griffiths with a couple of minutes on the clock.

With the game in injury time, both teams had half effort to score but the score remained 1-0 to the Wellmen and as referee Gray blew his whistle for full time, Holywell Town had held on to their 1-0 lead and saw their name go into the hat for the draw for the next round.
It was a great performance by the Wellmen in a tough local derby and every player can take great credit for their performance. Also a special mention to the excellent supporters who made the trip and I’m sure the 130 plus there cheering, singing and urging the Wellmen on enjoyed the cup tie and hopefully be rewarded with a great draw for the next round.