Buckley Town 1-5 Holywell Town

The game opened brightly with the Wellmen having the majority of the play and were playing the better football. Lee Healey broke down the left with 8 minutes on the clock, and his low cross from the byline found debutant Shaun Tuck, but he was unable to get a good connection on the ball and the defenders cleared the ball to safety. A few minutes later, Tuck was involved again, and his effort saw the ball hit the post and out for a goal kick.

A few minutes later, Tuck did break the deadlock. Steve Thomas fed the ball through midfield and Tuck picked it up and ran at the defence, he beat 4 defenders before shooting across goal and the ball nestled into the net to give the Wellmen a deserved lead. 5 minutes later, Lee Healey broke clear and his shot was save by Buckley keeper Adam McGee.

Buckley's first real chance came on the halfhour mark, as Shaun Tinsley watched as his Free Kick was saved well by John Rushton in the Holywell goal. Buckley then battled to get back into the game and Jake Skyner's shot flew over Rushton's bar. Both sides had chances before the break, Matty Hurdman going closest for the Wellmen, but the score remained 1-0 to the Wellmen as the players left the field for half time.

The second half was barely three minutes old when The Wellmen doubled their lead. Ryan Davidson rose and got on the end of a Steve Thomas corner, and his effort flew into the net, despite the effort of the Buckley defender who got a touch to it but could only help it into the net. A few minutes later, it was 3-0 as Tuck got his second of the afternoon. Tuck picked up the ball on the edge of the penalty area, and controlled the ball well and turned before shooting past McGee. The goal was no more than Town deserved.

Buckley raised their game and looked for a way to get back into the game, Buckley's Shaun Tinsley watched as his effort was brilliantly saved by Rushton. On the hour mark, Lee Healey crossed the ball into the danger area, but the keeper spilled the ball as he rose to gather it and the ball was cleared, with Davidson rushing in. Healey then found himself with time to shoot, and his effort came back out off the post then bizarrely, the home side pulled a goal back. Steve Thomas' backpass to Rushton saw the ball hit Rushton, and somehow ended up in the back of the net. The goal raised Buckley who looked for a second and Asa Hamilton fired wide from a corner and ex Wellmen Dan Drazdauskas fired over the cross bar.

Any fear of Buckley getting back into the game was quashed on 68 minutes as Lee Healey grabbed Town's 4th goal of the afternoon. Healey ran with the ball and held off the challenge of the Buckley Centre Back before shooting low past McGee to give Town a 3 goal cushion. A couple of minutes later, Tuck completed his hat trick, Healey passed the ball to Tuck in the penalty area, and he controlled well before firing home to complete his hat trick, and then ran to the Wellmen supporters behind the goal to celebrate.

Hamilton fired over for Buckley as they attacked the Wellmen's goal, and Town's Healey also had an effort go over the bar. Buckley Town had a couple of efforts during the final few minutes of the game, with Hamilton bringing out a save out of Rushton, before a Free kick by James Ramsay was easily gathered by Rushton.

The referee Cheryl Foster blew for full time and Town left the field to applause by the large contingent of Wellmen supporters who had made the short trip up to Buckley Town. It was a great team performance, with some great finishing on show and excellent performances by debutants Shaun Tuck and Matty Hurdman. Roll on next Saturday.........