Holywell Town 6-0 Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant

Prior to kick off, there was a minute’s silence held for John ‘The Gun’ Foulkes and Frank Bailey, who sadly passed away during the past fortnight. The match kicked off and the game was barely a minute old when the Wellmen had a dream start and took the lead through Shaun Tuck, much to the delight of the Holywell Town supporters. Tuck took on a couple of defenders before shooting low into the corner, and Sam Jones

Holywell Town settled after the goal and passed the ball around with confidence, and were looking to increase their lead. Steve Thomas went on a run down the left and beat 3 opponents but his shot creeped just wide of Connor Lee’s post. The Wellmen went close to doubling their lead shortly afterwards, the lively Tuck broke clear and headed the ball past the advancing keeper and rounded him, only to find the side netting from a tight angle. Paul Williams then had a shot saved well by Lee, after beating 2 defenders on the edge of the box before Lee catches the ball from a Graeme Williams cross with Tuck challenging in the air for the ball.
Llanrhaeadr had their first real chance on the half hour mark when Mark Griffiths hit a great half volley at Paul Turner, but the Holywell goalkeeper saved well to maintain his sides lead. There was then a lengthy stoppage as John Jones and a Llanrhaeadr player clashed heads and both received treatment to bad cuts. Both players had to be replaced on the field and Jones ended up going to hospital for stitches to stem the bleeding.

Still the second goal wouldn’t come for the Wellmen and Paul Williams thought he had grabbed the next goal, but his shot came back out off the post with the keeper well beaten. Town didn’t have to wait a long time after that for the breakthrough, as Sam Jones scored with a couple of minutes remaining after Graeme Williams seemed to miss kick the ball, but it fell kindly to Jones who beat his marker and fire home low into the corner to give Town a 2 goal cushion. Tuck very nearly made it 3 with the last chance of the half, his effort going inches wide from Ryan Davidson’s cross.

The second half started where the first ended with Town pressing for another goal. Tuck again in the thick of the action as he was brought down on the edge of the box to win a free kick, but the resulting kick was cleared by the defence, but only as far as Steve Thomas, and he crashed the ball back goalwards forcing the keeper to do a flying save to prevent his side going further behind.
Shortly afterwards, the Wellmen did increase their lead, Matty Harvey prodding the ball home after a great ball in by Paul Williams. Tuck then had an effort cleared off the line after a cheeky back heel goalwards from Sam Jones cross, before Tuck grabbed his second of the game and Town’s 4th with a cheeky chip over the advancing keeper after a slip by the centre back to give Tuck the chance to chase the ball goalwards. A few minutes later it was 5-0, as Graeme Williams volleyed the ball home after Tuck had controlled the ball before crossing for Williams to score.

The visitors then had their best spell of the game, putting pressure on the home side’s defence but the back four held on and controlled their line brilliantly, Llanrhaeadr’s Wayne Austin shooting wide of the target and Mark Griffiths having a shot saved by Turner. With time running out, Town were awarded a penalty as Tuck was brought down after breaking clear, and he picked himself up to fire the resulting spot kick home to complete his hat trick.

The visitor’s Griffiths then had a goal ruled out for offside before Griffiths again brought out a good save out of Turner, but the Wellmen held out for the clean sheet and booked their name in the hat for the next round. A great and convincing win and all eyes now turn to Monday’s 3rd Round cup draw.