Gwalchmai 0 - 6 Holywell Town

Gwalchmai 0- 6 Holywell Town

Holywell Town travelled to Gwalchmai for the opening game of the new season and many would have hoped for an easier first game of the season as Gwalchmai is a tough place to go as we have found out many a times in the past.

With a large contingent of Supporters cheering them on, the game got underway and Town were soon out of the blocks and the first chance fell to Steve Thomas but the keeper Rhys Roberts got a touch to his effort. Sam Jones then saw his free kick saved before Sam went close again on the quarter of an hour mark.

Gwalchmai’s Mark Griffith then had a shot fy over the bar and a few minutes later, Town had taken the lead through Sam Jones. An error by Gareth Allman saw his back pass picked up by Jones and he fired home past Roberts in the Gwalchmai goal. Phil Lloyd then went close for the Wellmen when he picked up a Sam Jones cross but his shot went inches wide. Town were now in control and Steve Thomas picked up the ball on the halfway line and beat 3 challenges and passed to Paul Williams but his cross was a little too high for Phil Lloyd who was waiting in the box.

Town then doubled their lead through Sam Jones after he slotted the ball past Roberts in a 1on 1 situation after been put in by Graeme Williams. Sam then picked up his hat trick a few minutes later after been put through from a Tom McElmeel ball and once again found himself one on one on the keeper and Jones fired past Roberts to give Town a 3 goal cushion. A few miunutes before the break, Town made it 4 as Phil Lloyd, who was having a great game, beat a couple of challenges and he crossed the ball well to Steve Thomas who slid the ball into an empty net despite the challenge of Gwalchmai’s Jon Williams. On the stroke of half time, Town nearly made it 5 as Sam Jones’ free kick was tipped over by the Gwlachmai keeper.

The players came out for the second half 4 goals to the good and Graeme Williams nearly made it 5 a couple of minutes in to the second half, Sam Jones controlled the ball well and he fed the ball to Phil Lloyd who ran into the box and crossed the ball to the onciomuing Williams but he watched his shot saved one handed by Roberts before the ball was cleared.

Gwalchmai’s Corey Sinnott had a shot saved well by debutant Michael Platt then Town went up the other end of the field and won a corner. From the resulting corner, Sam Jones has a shot but the keeper saved well. Tony Roebuck then broke clear down the right and crossed the ball well. The ball held up in the strong wind and Matty Harvey was on hand to head the ball home.
Corey Sinnott had an effort fly over the bar for the hosts before Town had a goal disallowed. Phil Lloyd ran into the box down from the right and looked up and saw Steve Thomas unmarked and crossed the ball home and Thomas slid in at the far post, but the Referee’s Assistant raised her flag deeming Steve was off side. Town rounded off their scoring a few minutes later through Dafydd Griffith. Town won a free kick on teh left and Sam Jones perfectly weighted cross found Dafydd Griffiths who turned and shot and his effort flew into the bottom corner to leave the keeper with no chance.

Steve Thomas had a shot go over the bar and Roberts once again saved brilliantly with his finger tips, keeping out a fierce Phil Lloyd effort. As the referee blew for full time, it was a thouroughly deserved win for the Wellmen and it has been a long time since Town has a result like that in their first game of the season! Roll on Wednesday as we welcome Glan Conwy to Halkyn Road.