Holywell Town 4 - 1 Llanrug United

Holywell Town 4 – 1 Llanrug United

Holywell Town welcomed Llanrug United, another team who were in top form, to Halkyn Road and looked to do the double over Llanrug having beaten them 5-0 at Cae Eithin Duon earlier in the season.

The game started well for Town and the home side took the lead with 3 minutes on the clock as Dafydd Griffith got up well to head the ball home past Dylan Roberts from a Sam Jones corner. A few minutes later, Phil Lloyd shot inches wide of the post but the linesman’s flag was already up and it wouldn’t have counted even if it had gone in. With quarter of an hour on the clock, Matty Roberts turned well to shoot but his effort went over the crossbar.

Town were playing good football now and Phil Lloyd put Sam Jones in on goal but his effort was saved well by Roberts in between the sticks for Llanrug. With 20 minutes on the clock, the visitors had their first real chance on goal, Cai Williams had an effort deflected out for a corner, and from the resulting corner, the ball fell to Kevin Lloyd and his low cross across the face of goal was blocked by Matty Roberts with a couple of Llanrug players ready to pounce. 5 minutes later, Llanrug went close again, David Noel Williams shot towards Mike Platt’s goal but his effort was blocked by Dafydd Griffith and the ball fell kindly for Kevin Lloyd and his powerful volley was saved well by Platt. More pressure yet again by Llanrug saw Lloyd get another shot in on the Town goal which was blocked by Jack D’arcy and the follow up by Cai Williams flew over the bar, much to the relief of town’s players.

On the half hour mark, Llanrug won a free kick in a dangerous position and Dylan Owen’s kick was saved by Platt. A couple of minutes later, Town doubled their lead. Paul Williams, who was having a great game down the left, cut through the Llanrug defence and fired the ball into the bottom corner to give Town a two goal cushion. A minute or so later, Holywell increased their lead once again. Williams once again broke into the box and after beating 3 defenders, he coolly passed the ball to Luke Tyson who fired home to make it 3-0.

Further chances fell to Sam Jones and Graeme Williams but they failed to convert and as the referee blew for half time, Town went in to the dressing room 3 goals to the good and in fairness to Llanrug, the game was a lot closer than the scoreline suggested.
The second half got under way and the first clear chance of the half fell to Holywell. Great passing along the edge of the Llanrug penalty area saw the ball fall to Tony Roebuck, and he watched as is fierce shot came back out off the upright with Roberts beaten. Llanrug then had a chance a few minutes later when substitute Jonathon Peris Jones saw his header cleared off the line by Dafydd Griffith.

The game was wrapped up just after the hour mark. Holywell broke clear from the half way line through Paul Williams and he was running on towards goal with the defenders beaten. The llanrug keeper Dylan Roberts came out to narrow the angle but Williams spotted Luke Tyson running down the right and passed the ball to Tyson who fired home passed Roberts to give Town a 4 goal lead. Llanrug still didn’t give up and Kevin Lloyd went close firing a free kick narrowly over before Dylan Roberts pulled off a great save to deny Phil Lloyd.

As the game entered the final 10 minutes, Llanrug United scored a consolation goal through Cai Williams, who’s shot seemed to go through a crowded penalty area and somehow found the back of the net. The final few minutes passed by and as the referee blew for full time, Town were happy to have all 3 points in a game which we knew would be tough and in Llanrug, there won’t be many teams who will beat them between now and the end of the season.

The win meant Town had now won their 21st successive match since the season began and as the good crowd left Halkyn Road, Supporters knew that Holywell Town would be top of the league over the festive period. With no game scheduled for Saturday 27th December, Town must now wait a fortnight before their next game when the travel to Llandyrnog United on Saturday 3rd January 2015.