Glan Conwy 1-2 Holywell Town

Glan Conwy 1-2 Holywell Town
Holywell Town travelled to Glan Conwy looking to get back to winning ways after Tuesday night’s disappointing draw at Kinmel Bay, and 3 points against Glan Conwy would be the ideal as Town now have 4 weeks of Cup Football before they return to League action.
Town started brightly and in the opening minutes, Phil Lloyd had a header saved by Keeper Danny Mills before having a shot which flew high and wide of the target. Disaster struck for Town on 7 minutes as the hosts took the lead. Mills gathered the ball from a Holywell Town attack and his punt up field flew over the top of the players and Glan Conwy’s Kyle Robb raced through and his effort beat the advancing Mike Platt to give the Glan Conwy the lead.

Town looked to get back into the game and a couple of free kicks in quick succession saw a Sam Jones effort blocked for a corner and Dafydd Griffith had a shot blocked from John Leonard’s in swinging free kick. Glan Conwy’s Joe Chaplin had a header go wide from a free kick before Paul Williams was put through and watched as his rasping shot saved by Mills.

Town were reduced to 10 men on 25 minutes as Sam Jones received his marching orders by referee Mr G T Evans. Glan Conwy’s players did not likeTom McElmeel’s challenge on one of their players and from the Melee that followed, Sam Jones received a red card and was sent for an early shower. Glan Conwy's goal keeper also picked up a yellow card but to single Sam out as being the cause when the majority of players from both sides were involved was slightly confusing, and from the look on some of the players faces, they were surprised, and relieved, that there was only one red card shown.

Town were up against it now being a goal behind and down to 10 men, and Phil Lloyd was only inches away from grabbing the equaliser when his powerful shot flew across goal but missed the post by inches. The equaliser however did come a few minutes later from the penalty spot. Tom McElmeel ran into the box and he was brought down by the Glan Conwy right back and he picked himself up to take the spot kick and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to level the scorers. The goal was no more than Town deserved and Lloyd had an effort go close before on the stroke of half time, Glan Conwy went close as Kyle Robb’s cross was met by Joe Chaplin but his shot was saved by Mike Platt.

The second half got underway and Town looked to grab the all important second goal and the opening exchanges of the half saw Town put pressure on the Glan Conwy goal. Paul Williams floated over a free kick which was a little to hard for the onrushing players, before another Paul Williams Free Kick was met by the head of Matty Harvey but he couldn’t guide it towards the Glan Conwy goal. Phil Lloyd then had a shot saved before Town took the lead with a great free kick. Rob Salathiel was put through and he was brought down and The Wellmen were given a free kick just outside the box. Tom McElmeel stepped up to take it and as soon as it left his boot, there was only one place for it to go and that was the top corner with the keeper well beaten. What a great goal that was and worthy of winning any game.

Chaplin then had a shot go over Platt’s bar before Phil Lloyd run into the byeline saw him pass the ball to Tony Roebuck who’s cross was met by Rob Salathiel but his effort was saved by Mills in the Glan Conwy goal. Mike Platt then cleared the ball from his own penalty area and the ball fell to Phil Lloyd who’s hit the ball first time on the volley which the keeper saved well. As the game entered the final 10 minutes, Lloyd could have made the game safe but after being put through on goal, his attempted chip over the keeper was blocked by the keeper. Lloyd was having a great game upfront and he went close again soon after before Paul Williams watched as his shot went wide. Lloyd was put in again a few minutes before the end of the game but Mills produced a great save to keep the scores at 2-1.

Glan Conwy thought they had grabbed an equaliser in stoppage time as Merrick Knight fired the ball home but the referee disallowed the goal as Platt had been fouled in the build up to that goal. Glan Conwy’s Richard Orme was then sent off for his second yellow card after he had fouled Town’s McElmeel. The referee blew for full time and the Wellmen were victorious and the win means that Town have increased their lead at the top of the league and was important getting all 3 points knowing that Town have no more league games until the end of February. It was a great battling performance by the Wellmen and given the task ahead of them, they never gave up to the end and were worthy winners.