Buckley Town 1 - 4 Holywell Town

** PLEASE NOTE AS

The Wellmen made the short journey up to Buckley’s Globe Way for the local derby against the Stags, and the Wellmen were given the perfect start when on 3 minutes, Dafydd Griffith gave the Wellmen the lead, firing home from just outside the area on the half volley after a great lay off by Steve Lewis and the low shot found its way into the bottom corner of the net with Ben Jones well beaten. Town couldn’t have wished for a better start but the joy was short lived as Buckley soon equalised with 10 minutes played as Ben Howarth fired home with the outside of his boot past Mike Platt in the Wellmen’s goal.
The goal lifted the home side who tried to make home advantage pay, and on the quarter of an hour mark, a free kick over by Adam Eden found the head of Dave Bryan and his header flew inches past the post. A few minutes later Lee Davey shot high and wide. A few minutes later, Steve Lewis won the ball off Eddie Jebb with a strong shoulder, before running into the box and Jebb, still aggrieved from the challenge seconds earlier bundled Lewis over in the box and the referee had no option but to point to the spot. Town’s Tom McElmeel stepped up to take the spot kick and it found the back of the net past Jones.

5 minutes later, Town extended their lead to make it 3-1. Steve Lewis once again won the ball before passing the ball to debutant Ryan Davidson who’s header found Connor Littler who headed past Jones to give Town a 3-1 lead. With a few minutes remaining before half time, Town added a 4th to their tally with possibly the best goal of the night. A good ball over towards Graeme Williams and he controlled the ball well, before skipping past his marker and fired the ball home past Jones into the far corner, much to the delight of the large Holywell Town contingent to give the Wellmen a 4-1 lead at the break.

After the restart, a couple of half chances fell to both teams befor Town’s Steve Lewis picked the ball up from Tom McElmeel’s run, and Lewis beat his man and marker but his shot flew over the bar. Buckley Town’s manager Tom Taylor the received his marching orders off the match referee and sent to the stands, and a few minues later, things got worse for the home side as Johnny Taylor was sent off for an elbow / rasied arm during a challenge on Tom McElmeel. Phil Molyneux then shot high and wide for the home side before Phil Lloyd fired inches wide with his first touch of the ball, before an excellent run by Tony Roebuck saw his dangerous cross cleared with Lewis waiting in the box.

Lee Davey for the home side then had a shot go wide of Mike Platt’s goal before Buckley’s Jack Leamy had a shot saved well by Mike Platt in the Wellmen’s goal. Town then had a great move, Steve Thomas intercepting a Buckley Town free kick, who fed the ball forward to Paul Williams, who passed the ball to Ross Ankers, who’s layoff back to Williams was inch perfect, and Williams ran forward before crossing the ball over towards Phil Lloyd who’s first touch let him down in a dangerous position.

Buckley’s Davey found himself clear on the left of the box, and his shot was excellently saved by Mike Platt before the final chance of the night fell to Paul Williams, who’s shot flew inches over Ben Jones’ cross bar. The Wellmen were made up to beat their local rivals and all eyes now turn to next Saturday’s trip to Caersws.