Holywell Town 3-1 Kinmel Bay

Holywell Town 3-1 Kinmel Bay

Holywell Town welcomed Kinmel Bay to Halkyn Road for the semi final of the Mawddach Cup and the winners tonight would face Llanrug United in the final at Bangor’s Book People Stadium on Saturday 9th May.

The Game was only 8 minutes old when Town took the lead through Stuart Hayes, much to the delight of the large crowd which was at the game to watch. Kinmel Bay captain Danny Abbott then had a header go over the bar before Steve Thomas had a shot sail over the bar and Phil Lloyd had a shot go wide of the target.

Phil Lloyd then had an effort go wide before a great run down the left by Steve Thomas saw his cross flash across the goal mouth but got blocked and was cleared to safety with Phil Lloyd ready to pounce. Matty Harvey then had a header disallowed for possibly a foul on the Kinmel Bay defender from a Steve Thomas corner before Kinmel Bay had half a chance as Kyle Luffman broke down the right before being brought down but the advantage was played as he got up and crossed the ball but Sam Jones trekked back to clear the ball to safety.

Kinmel Bay’s Dave Jones then had a shot clip the cross bar before Town doubled their lead with a few minutes remaining before the break. A great ball through saw Hayes in on goal with James Hay chasing him, and as Hayes got nearer the goal, Hay clipped his heels from behind and the referee had no alternative but to send him off and gave Town a penalty. Sam Jones stepped up to take the penalty and smashed the ball home giving goalkeeper Matty Harrison no chance.

A few minutes in the second half, Steve Thomas went on a run and was tripped just outside the area but the referee waved play on before John Leonard put Luke Tyson through but his effort from a tight angle went over the bar before Phil Lloyd had a shot come back out off the post. Kinmel Bay got back into the game now and the warning signs were there when Mike Platt had to rush out to kick the ball away from the onrushing Robbi Dunn. A few minutes later, The Bay got a goal back as Andreas Alvarado broke through and slid the ball past Platt to put Kinmel Bay back into the game. Dunn then had a free kick saved by Platt before Steve Thomas had a header hit the side netting, with half the ground thinking he had scored.

Dafydd Griffith then had a couple of headers deflected against a defender on the near post before Phil Lloyd had a shot blocked and the ball fell to Paul Williams but his touch let him down and the ball went over the bar off his knee. Sam Jones then had a shot saved before Town wrapped the game up in the dying minutes as Phil Lloyd chased a loose ball and won it back, he noticed the keeper was running back into his goal and he crossed it over to the far post where Steve Thomas was waiting and Thomas put his head bravely forward and headed home before clashing heads with the Kinmel Bay defender and had to have treatment before leaving the field.

The referee blew for full time and despite being made to fight for the win, it was Holywell Town who progressed to the Final of the Mawddach cup, and the supporters are already planning another day out to a Final!