Holywell Town 4-2 Chirk AAA

Holywell Town 4-2 Chirk AAA

The Wellmen faced Chirk AAA in the Semi Final of the NEWFA Challenge Cup at Buckley’s Globe Way Ground, with the other semi final being between Cefn Druids and Gresford Athletic 24 hours after this tie.

Holywell Town had a dream start as they took the lead after 4 minutes, Ryan Davidson side footing home after a great cross by Tom Rowlands from the left. Town didn’t sit back and a few minutes later, had doubled their lead. A ball into the box came off the back of the Chirk Defender, and Phil Lloyd picked up the loose ball and ran towards the keeper Zac Bebbington and slotted the ball past the advancing keeper to double the Wellmen’s lead.

The Wellmen were playing great football, and a great through ball by Tony Roebuck again had Phil Lloyd in on goal, but Bebbington got down well to save with his legs to keep the score at 2-0. Town then won a free kick on the edge of the area, Tom Rowlands stepped up to take it and brought a good flying save out of Bebbington who dived to his right to parry the ball out for a corner. A few minutes later, Connor Littler had the ball in the net but referee Tom Owen blew to disallow the goal after he deemed Littler to have handled the ball in the process.

Chirk got their first real effort on goal on 26 minutes, Gareth Roberts getting in a good shot which Mike Platt had to block with his hands, and the loose ball fell to Lewis Jones who’s shot crept inches wide of Platt’s right hand post. Chirk however pulled a goal back shortly afterwards, a ball through the Town defence saw Nathan Lavender run forward, slightly away from goal, and Platt collided with the Chirk forward and the referee pointed to the spot for a penalty. Chirk’s Lewis Jones stepped up to take and fired the ball into the back of the net.

Littler then brought out another good save out of Bebbington then Town were awarded a penalty themselves as Phil Lloyd was brought down just insode the area by Chirk’s central defender. Paul D Williams stepped up to take the kick (pictured) and fired the ball into the net to give the keeper no chance, to make it 3-1 to the Wellmen at the half way stage of the match.

The second half begun and a few minutes in, Phil Lloyd burst clear and from a tight angle, got in his shot which the keeper could only parry into the path of Davidson, but his effort flew over the bar. Chirk then won a free kick in a dangerous position and Ashton Williams’ header was only inches over Platt’s crossbar.

Chirk battled hard to try to get back into the game, but couldn’t get break down the Wellmen’s defence, and the Wellmen made the game safe on 76 minutes as Dafydd Griffith rose well to head the ball home from Steve Thomas’ in swinging corner from the left. A few minutes later, Griffith nearly scored a carbon copy of his earlier goal, but this time his header fell inches over the crossbar. With a few minutes remaining, Phil Lloyd was agonisingly close to grabbing Town’s 5th goal, heading inches wide Steve Thomas’ cross after good work by Josh Maldon to get the ball to Thomas.

As the game entered stoppage time, Chirk grabbed a consolation goal as Ashton Williams broke clear and slotted the ball past the advancing Mike Platt, and the ball nestled into the corner of the net to reduce the arrears. It was a good performance by the lads who played well and were worthy winners on the night. Town will now meet either Cefn Druids or Gresford Athletic in the Final.