Rhayader Town 1-1 Holywell Town

Rhayader Town 1-1 Holywell Town

The Wellmen made the long journey to Mid Wales to face Rhayader Town who found themselves 2nd from bottom at the beginning of play.

The first chance of the afternoon fell to the home side with Paul Turner saving well, before a great move by the Wellmen involving Steve Thomas, Tony Roebuck, Luke Douglas and Graeme Williams saw the keeper drop Williams’ cross for a corner. The resulting corner saw the Wellmen go close but went out for a goal kick. Steve Thomas then found himself running down the wing and beats Gethin Jones to deliver a great cross into the box but the home side managed to clear the ball to safety.

Tom Rowlands, recently signed from Conwy United, had a shot which was saved by Ash Roberts in the Rhayader goal. Rhayader then broke upfield and Dane Griffiths effort was cleared by Steve Thomas but only into the path of Sean Powell, who blazed the ball over Paul Turner’s cross bar. That was a massive let off for the Wellmen and up the other end, a dangerous Steve Thomas free kick into the box saw Phil Lloyd rise well to head teh ball goalwards but it ended up flying inches over the crossbar.

Town then had another good chance as Tom Rowlands found himself in the box, and twist and turned well to get a shot in but to watch as Ash Roberts got down low to palm the ball one handed away for a corner. That was a great chance for the Wellmen and so nearly cost them dearly as almost on the next attack, Rhayader broke clear and Dane Griffiths broke through but Paul Turner saved his shot to keep the scores goalless. A minute later however, the home side took the lead from a corner, as Dane Griffiths found himself at the near post to tap the ball home to give his side the lead on the stroke of half time.

The second half started brightly for the Wellmen, a good free kick over into the box see’s Jonathon Jones’ header cleared. Minutes later, Graeme Williams’ free kick was blocked by the defence and Luke Douglas saw his follow up shot go over the crossbar. A few minutes later however, The Wellmen got the deserved equaliser. A corner from the left flew to the back post and Dafydd Griffith was on hand to head the ball home to level the scores. Phil Lloyd then had a shot deflected wide of Roberts’ post before Connor Littler had an effort saved by Roberts. Tony Roebuck then had a long range effort go inches wide of Roberts’ post. Rhayader’s Sean Powell then broke clear down the left hand side and as he ran goal wards into the penalty box, he should have shot when he had the opportunity but he decided to carry one to the byline but the ball ran out before he could get a cross in.

Steve Thomas then whipped in another great free kick and Griffith headed the ball back across goal and Phil Lloyd’s overhead kick was blocked and cleared. Town then had the ball in the net through Lloyd’s header but the linesman deemed he was offside and the goal wasn’t given. Sub Paul Williams, making a welcome return to the side after being out for a few months injured crossed the ball over towards Littler who watched his effort go over the bar before the home side were reduced to 10 men as Christian Jones was shown the red card for a challenge on Tony Roebuck.

A few minutes later, the referee blew for full time and Town picked up a point where on chances and possession, it should have been all three.