Holywell Town 6-1 Llandudno Junction

Holywell Town 6-1 Llandudno Junction

Fresh from beating Mold Alexandra in the Welsh Cup last Saturday, Holywell Town welcomed 2nd placed Llandudno Junction to Halkyn Road in the 1st round of the Mawddach Challenge Cup. This was most definitely the tie of the round and The Wellmen were first out of the blocks and pressed looking for the first goal. This goal came as early as the 3rd minute when Paul Williams drilled the ball home after an excellent move involving Steve Thomas and Sam Jones. With 10 minutes on the clock, Town doubled their lead through top scorer Sam Jones. Steve Thomas crossing the ball inch perfect to find Jones at the far post, and he had the simplest tasks of heading the ball home with the keeper Gwidion Owen well beaten.

Town were playing some really good football and it was inevitable that Town would increase their lead and this happened on 25 minutes. Graeme Williams had a shot which hit Town’s Matty Harvey and the ball fell to Luke Tyson who was following up and his shot ended up in the bottom corner to put the Wellmen 3 goals to the good.

Junction came back into the game a few minutes later with ex red Jamie Jones having a shot saved by Mike Platt on 27 minutes, then with 36 minutes on the clock, Junction reduced the deficit. A corner from the left found the head of Mike Lundstram, who headed home past Platt to reduce the arrears. The goal spurred Town on though, and Paul Williams had a shot saved and Tom McElmeel hit a shot over as Town looked to increase their lead before the break.

The Second half started and Junction were the first to threaten when Jamie Jones shot over Platt’s goal. Steve Thomas then made a great run through the Junction defence before laying the ball through to Paul Williams but his effort was saved. A few minutes later, Town thought they had scored their 4th through Sam Jones but the Linesman had raised his flag as Steve Thomas was adjudged to be in an offside position. Town went close again after an hour played as Steve Thomas, who was giving the Junction back four problems all afternoon, twist and turned around a couple of challenges and his shot came back out off the post with Owen beaten before Thomas again went close but his shot flew wide of the target. Thomas again went agonisingly close on 70 minutes as his header came back off the post again but he was rewarded with his performance with a goal on 73 minutes. Phil Lloyd beat the challenge of the Junction defender and his pass found Sam Jones who laid the ball off for Thomas, and his shot flew into the bottom corner to kill the game off!

The visitors then had a chance as Jamie Jones broke clear down the left, he pulled the ball back for Jordan Kane but his shot went wide of Platt’s goal. As the game entered the final 5 minutes, Shaun Pritchard thread the ball through the defence for Phil Lloyd, and Lloyd saw his shot go into the bottom corner past the despairing arm of Gwidion Owen in between the sticks for Junction to make it 5-1 for Town. A few minutes later, Lloyd wrapped up the game scoring Town’s 6th with a deft chip over the advancing Owen to cap an amazing performance by the Wellmen, who now go into the draw for the next round.