Mold Alex 1-2 Holywell Town

Mold Alex 1-2 Holywell Town

The Wellmen travelled to Alyn Park to face Mold Alex in the first round of the Huws Gray Cup, and with a couple of minutes on the clock, Steve Lewis had his first effort of the day go inches wide of Kris Leigh’s post. But it didn’t take long for the deadlock to be broken. Steve Lewis ran at the defender and beat his marker, and was about to round the keeper but he was brought down by the keeper and the referee had no hesitation but to point to the spot. Chris Leigh got away with just a talking to, much to the disgust of the supporters congregated behind the goal. Tom McElmeel stepped up to take the spot kick and made no mistake to give the Wellmen the lead.

Town looked to add to the lead and Steve Thomas and Tony Roebuck combined well to cross the ball over towards Danny Drasduskas, but the ball was hit a little too hard for the onrushing Drasduskas when all it needed was a touch. Mold had an effort when Jamie Smith ‘s shot flew well wide of Mike Platt’s goal. Thomas Murry then made a good run down the right, and his cross into the box took a defelction off Dafydd Griffith and fell kindly to no9 but his shot went wide of the goal.

With around half an hour on the clock, the Wellmen were forced to change when Danny Drasduskas pulled up with a hamstring injury and Graeme Williams came on in his place. Mold then pressed forward and Jack Laird put in a good through ball for Jamie Henders but he failed to connect then Town doubled their lead with a few minutes remaining of the half. Steve Lewis picked up the ball just inside the area, before turning and curled the ball into the top corner with Leigh. It was a great goal and the goalkeeper was well beaten. Town piled on the pressure with a couple of minutes remaining of the half, forcing Mold to defend 3 or 4 corners and despite a couple of half chances, the scores remained 2-0 at the break.

The second half started with the home team putting the Wellmen under pressure, and Mike Platt produced a great save to prevent Henders pulling one back, saving well with his legs before the ball was cleared to safety. Town also had their chances, and a goal mouth scramble saw Steve Lewis and Graeme Williams both have efforts cleared off the line.

Midway through the half however, Mold Alex pulled one back. Peter Hoy was adjudged to have handled the ball and the referee pointed to the spot. Jack Laird stepped up to take the kick and he beat Mike Platt to put the home side back into the game. The goal lifted the home side and they won a free kick on the edge of the area. Laird whipped in a good ball but the ball went through the legs of everyone in the box and out for a goal kick. Henders then had a shot which took a wicked deflection off Dafydd Griffith, but Mike Platt was down well to palm the ball away.

In the closing minutes, Mold won another free kick, and attempted to do a move they must have practiced on the training ground, but it went to waste as Steve Thomas was able to block the through ball and clear to safety. Matty Roberts then broke free down the left for the Wellmen, but his pull back towards Steve Lewis was cleared by the home defence. With the game deep into injury time, Mold had a great chance to level the scores, as Henders turned and shoot and the ball hit Platt before rebounding back out and Henders effort was thankfully cleared off the line by Dafydd Griffith.

The referee blew for full time and it was the Wellmen’s name that will be in the hat for the next round!