Cefn Druids 2-1 Holywell Town

Cefn Druids 2-1 Holywell Town

The Wellmen travelled to The Rock to face Cefn Druids who were last season relegated from the Welsh Premier League. Buoyed by last week’s excellent draw against League favourites Caernarfon Town, The Wellmen looked to get their first win on the board at Cefn Druids.
The Wellmen did not get the start they wanted and fell behind on 5 minutes as the hosts took the lead. A throw in from the right saw the ball laid off across the edge of the box into the path of Mike Pritchard and his shot flew into the top corner. Town very nearly equalised a couple of minutes later. Paul Williams broke clear from the halfway line and ran on towards goal, skipped a couple of challenges and his shot was brilliantly tipped around the post by Druids keeper Adam McGee.

On the quarter of an hour mark, Mike Platt was forced to do a great flying save to deny Dan Forbes before Druids doubled their lead on 17 minutes. Forbes picked up the ball and had his run along the edge of the box saw him look up and his curling looping shot found the top of the net to give Druids a two goal cushion.

Dan Drazdukas headed straight at the keeper from a Steve Thomas free kick before Steve Lewis was fouled on the edge of the box. Tom McElmeel, playing against his former club, took the kick and the keeper done a flying save to deny Town’s captain. Mike Platt then came to Town’s rescue saving well from Pritchard before Adam Hesp saw a volley fly over the bar.

Steve Thomas then started to get the better of Druids right back and another darting run saw him cross the ball into the danger area before laying the ball off to Paul Williams but his effort was parried behind the goalpost. Town’s Lewis was yet again fouled on edge of the box and he got up to take the kick, but his fierce shot was blocked by the wall and the ball was cleared. Pritchard again had a shot blocked before Lee Emberton was stretchered off with a bad leg injury after being tackled from behind by Craig Whitfield in what was the last bit of action of the first half.

With Emberton off injured, John Haseldin reshuffled the pack and replaced Brett Cotton with Paul D Williams who slotted into midfield, with Tony Roebuck dropping into the back 4. The change made an impact straight away as Williams settled into the game and took control of the midfield.

Dave Forbes broke through for Druids and his shot hit Sion McHugh and was cleared to safety before Forbes again had an effort from outside the box but was easily gathered by Platt. Town then had their best chance of the game as a great passing move involving Steve Thomas, Paul Williams and Tony Roebuck saw the ball swung over into the box, and the ball fell kindly to Graeme Williams but his shot flew over the bar.

The Ancients then had a couple of efforts to increase their lead, Craig Whitfield fed the ball through to Mike Pritchard but his effort took a deflection and went wide of Platt’s post for a corner, then shortly afterwards, Platt made a great save to parry a Ryan Kershaw Free kick wide of the post for another corner. A few minutes later, Town had pulled a goal back. A great move down the right saw the ball fed to Danny Drazudkas, he held the ball well and lay it off to Steve Lewis who whipped in a cross and found the head of Paul D Williams who headed home to put Town back in the game.

The strong Holywell Town supporters urged and cheered their team and the Wellmen were playing good football. Druids Kershaw saw his free kick go over the bar before Druids goalkeeper Adam McGee made a great save to keep his side in the lead. Town pushed forward down the right, and Paul D Williams fed the ball through to Tony Roebuck, and his pin point cross found Tom McElmeel, and his bullet header was somehow tipped over by McGee much to the delight of his team mates. Town were putting on the pressure now and Drazudkas watched as McGee again parried his shot away for a corner before sub Luke Tyson could have snatched a late equaliser, Steve Thomas with a great cross in from the right and Tyson was only a couple of inches away of getting the killer touch of the ball which would have seen it roll into the net.

The referee blew for full time and the players went off the field to a round of applause by the Holywell Town Supporters who thought for their performance, especially in the second half deserved at least a point. Town now look to get their first win of the season next Saturday at Conwy United.