Holywell Town 6-3 Knighton Town

Welsh Cup Round 2
Holywell Town 6-3 Knighton Town

The Wellmen welcomed Knighton Town to Halkyn Road for the 2nd round tie of the Welsh Cup and Town made the perfect start when Phil Lloyd put the wellmen ahead with 12 minutes on the clock. Lloyd doubled the lead a few minutes later to put the Wellmen in complete control of this cup tie.

Danny Drazdouskas fired over for the Wellmen with half hour on the clock and a few minutes later, the visitors pulled one back through Connor Bird, who fired home through a lot of bodies in the penalty area after a free kick came back out into play off Mike Platt, and Bird was stood on edge of box to rifle the ball home.

The game sprung back to life with 5 minutes to go of the half as Lloyd grabbed his hat trick. Drazdouskas made a great run down the left and crossed the ball towards Lloyd, who volleyed home from the far post. A few minutes later, it was 4-1 as Steve Thomas got on the scoresheet. Another good run by Drazdouskas from the left saw him go into the box and his cross was parried out by Dave Exall but only as far as Steve Thomas, who controlled the ball before firing home to give Town a 4-1 lead at the break.

The second half begun and Knighton were the first out of the blocks, and a good free kick by Adam Worton saw Mike Platt save well but the ball fell to Mark Wozancraft but he could only fire the ball over the crossbar. Gareth Mansell then had a free kick go over Platt’s crossbar before John Haseldin made a double substitution, Stuart Hayes replacing Danny Draszduskas and young Brady McGilloway, making his first team debut, replacing Graeme Williams.

Mcgilloway had a good run into the box, skipping past a couple of challenges and his shot was saved by the keeper, before Stuart Hayes won the ball well on edge of box and he laid it off to Paul Williams who couldn’t get enough control on the ball and it flew over the bar. A minute later however, Hayes grabbed Town’s 5th goal of the game, Phil Lloyd flicking the ball over and Hayes, chased the loose ball and slid it past the oncoming Exall to extend Town’s lead.

Phil Lloyd then had a shot defelcted wide past the post before Town made their 3rd substitution of the match with Dafydd Griffith replacing Brett Cotton. Knighton Town pulled a goal back on the break, Mark Wozancraft broke clear and his low cross into the middle was inch perfect for Connor Bird to slide the ball home. Town then had the next effort as Josh Roberts watched as his low shot which was destined for the bottom corner was somehow saved by Exall who’s outstretched hand diverted the ball past the post for a corner.
The Wellmen extended their lead on 83 minutes as Lloyd grabbed his 4th goal of the game, firing the ball into the bottom corner. Two minutes later, the visitors were awarded a penalty which Connor Bird scored to grab his hat trick, despite Platt getting a hand to it.

Knighton Town were reduced to 10 men with a few minutes of the game remaining, as Corrin Jones said something towards the assistant ref who had no hesitation but to inform the match referee of what he had said. Tom McElmeel and Steve Thomas both had shots saved by Exall and shortly afterwards, the referee blew his whistle to end the game and the Wellmen had safely made it through to the 3rd round of the cup.