Holywell Town 1-1 Buckley Town

The Wellmen had their 2nd local derby in less than a week as Buckley Town travelled to Halkyn Road, and the Wellmen looked to get another win under their belts against another local side after Saturday’s 4-0 win over Mold Alex.

The game started and both sides had chances to score, and on 20 minutes, Mike Platt was forced into a good save from Adam Pugh, after a great ball in from the right found Pugh who’s effort was saved well by Platt. A few minutes later though, the visitors took the lead; A good cross in from the right was only partially cleared and the ball fell to Buckley’s Marcus Davies, who’s shot beat Platt to give the visitors the lead.

Town nearly responded with a quick equaliser. Graeme Williams, who had a great game, ran at the Buckley defence and lay the ball off to Phil Lloyd, who returned the pass to Williams who ran to the left of the area before crossing and the ball passed a few players and fell to Lloyd who’s snap shot flew wide of Ben Jones’ post. Town were beginning to get on top now and a great ball over teh top by Ross Ankers for Paul Williams saw Williams run into the box and crossed the ball which was only partially cleared by the Buckley defence, and Ankers picked up the loose ball but his shot was inches wide of the post.

Paul Williams then had a shot saved after more good work by Graeme Williams, before Ben Jones produced a great one handed save to tip the ball over from a Connor Littler effort. From teh resulting corner, Dafydd Griffith looked to add to his brace on Saturday against Mold Alex, but his shot was blocked by Jack Jones and the follow up shot by Graeme Williams was saved by Jones. With a few minutes left of the half, Town got a deserved equaliser. A great ball through by Ross Ankers saw Connor Littler chase after it, he rode the challenge of his marker and despite being under pressure by the Buckley defender, he hit an unstoppable shot into the top corner which left Jones well beaten to give Town a share of the spoils at the break.

The second half started in the same way as the first half with both sides having chances and looking to get the all important second goal. Graeme Williams posing a threat to the Buckley defence and he had a shot go inches wide, and Phil Lloyd took a shot not realising he had more time on the ball and his effort went wide of the post. Williams had another shot blocked after linking up well with Phil Lloyd in the build up. Lloyd fired inches wide again, after a great ball in by Williams saw Lloyd beat 3 defenders before shooting at the goal.
As the game entered the final 10 minutes, Town looked for a late winner, and Tony Roebuck fed a great ball through to Paul D Williams, and his great shot was tipped over the bar by Jones to deny Town the lead. Town very nearly got a late winner on 86 minutes, a free kick over by Lee Emberton from the left was only partially cleared by the Buckley back line and the ball fell to sub Ryan Davies and his fierce shot came back out off the post.

With the minutes ticking away, Connor Littler headed over from a Town corner, before a lovely ball by Graeme Williams into the path of Paul D Williams saw Williams hitting the ball too early and it went over the bar when he would have had time to control the ball before shooting at goal. As the game entered stoppage time, a great ball in from the left by Phil Lloyd found Paul D Williams again, and his volley was again well saved by Ben Jones to deny the Wellmen a late winner.

Deep into stoppage time, Holywell Town were awarded an indirect free kick in the Buckley penalty area as the referee adjudged Ben Jones to have taken to many steps before clearing the ball. From the resulting free kick, Town’s shot was blocked and the ball fell to Ross Ankers and his shot flew over the bar.

Town then won a free kick and the ball was whipped into the box but was cleared by the centre back and the ball was picked up by Adam Eden who only had Paul D Williams infront of him. He ran virtually the length of the pitch, and with the Holywell players sprinting back, with no team mates with him, he shot across face of goal but the ball went wide of Mike Platt’s post. The referee then blew for full time and walking off the pitch, the Wellmen will definitely feel it’s more 3 points lost than a point gained!