Holywell Town 3-1 FC Queens Park

The Wellmen aimed to reach the semi final of the NEWFA Challenge Cup and FC Queens Park stood in their way of a tie against Chirk AAA’s in the next round.

The game opened brightly and the first chance fell to the home side. Town won a free kick just inside the Queens park half, and Steve Thomas took it and the ball fell to Phil Lloyd, but he could only head the ball wide of Thomas Belton’s post. A few minutes later, Belton miss kicked a back pass which fell to Graeme Williams but his snap shot back towards the goal could only roll past the post. A minute later however, the Wellmen took the lead. A great through ball from midfield by Williams saw Tom Rowlands run and pick up the ball towards goal, the onrushing Belton came out to narrow the angle but Rowlands was able to fire the ball home through Belton’s legs to give the Wellmen a deserved lead.

Graeme Williams then broke clear and only had the keeper to beat, but Belton produced a great block with his legs to prevent the Wellmen doubling their lead. Queens Park’s first real chance of the match fell on 16 minutes, when Jamie Roberts had an effort on goal which Mike Platt had to tip over for a corner. The Wellmen doubled their lead a minute or so later, when Rowlands grabbed his second of the game. Brady McGilloway, who is having a great season, went on a run down the left and beat his marker to get to the byline, McGilloway looked up and saw Rowlands running in on goal and he fired the ball into the back of the net to give Belton no chance.
Tony Roebuck then had a powerful shot zip inches wide of Belton’s goal, before Graeme Williams was once again in on goal, but he got caught in two minds and instead of shooting at goal, decided to pass to the oncoming McGilloway but the ball ran out of play for a goal kick.

Town grabbed a third with just over half hour on the clock, another great ball through defence saw Graeme Williams chase and as he got to the ball, he looked and saw Phil Lloyd at the end of the box, and lay the ball off for Lloyd to fire home. Town looked to further increase their lead before the break with Graeme Williams and Phil Lloyd both going close, but the score remained 3-0 at the break.
The second half started brightly for the Wellmen and five minutes into the half, Brady McGilloway went on another run down the left, and beat his marker before delivering a great cross for Phil Lloyd, but Lloyd’s volley was blocked by Belton and Tony Roebuck hit the follow up and again it was blocked by Belton via is post. The Visitors were reduced to 10 men shortly afterwards, after it was spotted that Dannee Pickup had elbowed a Town player in an off the ball incident, and after consulting with her assistant, referee Cheryl Foster had no alternative but to send him off.

As the game wore on, the visitors got more and more possession, and Town found it harder than what they had during the first half and the visitors pulled a goal back with 20 minutes remaining. Andrew Torrence hit a fierce free kick against the crossbar of Platt’s goal, and despite Platt getting a touch to it, the ball fell to Jamie Roberts who tapped the ball home to give the visitors a glimmer of hope.
The final 10 minutes were nervy for the Wellmen, with Queens Park pressing for a second goal without testing Mike Platt, but the Wellmen also pressed looking to kill the game off with a decisive 4th goal, and it very nearly came in the final 5 minutes. Ross Ankers whipped over a great ball and McGilloway got a head to it but it but it went wide of Belton’s post, and the last chance fell to Connor Littler who’s shot was blocked by Belton in the Queens Park goal.

It was a good performance by the Wellmen, especially 1st half against a good and strong Queens Park side, who reached the semi final of the FAW Welsh Trophy before their defeat to Abergavenny Town over the Weekend. We now look forward to the Semi Final against Chirk AAA’s which is scheduled to be played on Wednesday 4th May 2016 at Buckley Town’s Globe ground.