Ruthin Town 2-1 Holywell Town

Holywell Town travelled to bottom of the table Ruthin Town looking to get back to winning ways, but found it tough against the bottom placed side. The Wellmen made a few changes from last weeks defeat at Aberystwyth, including Shaun Tuck who returned following a one match suspension and Phil Lloyd up front in place of Lee Healey. Paul Turner remained in goal after GAP Connahs Quay Nomads recalled on loan John Rushton late last week.
The Wellmen looked to get an early goal and put pressure on the Ruthin goal, Phil Lloyd and Shaun Tuck both testing the keeper. Ruthin also had chances with Garmon Hafal and Jordan MaCarter going close. Another great cross in by Steve Thomas saw Dylan Jones punching the ball clear with Phil Lloyd challenging for the ball.
The first clear chance of the afternoon fell to Ruthin’s McCarter finding himself clear on the edge of the box. Instead of shooting, he controlled the ball and cut inside but the Wellmen defenders closed him down and his shot flew over the bar without testing Paul Turner. Minutes later, Steve Thomas went close to open the scoring, turning on the edge of the box and shooting goalwards but Jones saved well.
Disaster struck shortly afterwards as the home side took the lead. Ruthin’s Pat Hinchliffe picked up the ball on the edge of the area and shot goalwards and the ball nestled into the corner of the net beating Turner’s dive. The goal spurred the Wellmen as they looked for an equaliser before the break. Phil Lloyd had a header saved well by Jones before Lloyd again volleyed the ball towards goal but his effort went wide of the post. Brady McGilloway then went close but his shot crept past Jones’ post.
The goal fonally came woth a couple of minutes remaining of the half. Town won a corner and Steve Thomas cross into the box was met by Matty Harvey who headed home to level the scores. The referee blew the whistle for half time a few minutes later and the scores were all square at the break.
The Second Half got underway and Ruthin had the first effort, the dangerous McCarter found himself thorough on goal, but his shot was beaten away by Turner to keep the scores at 1-1. The Wellmen piled on the pressure after this and looked to get the goal to put them ahead. Tuck had a good shot blocked by the defence and a goalmouth scramble, seeing both Paul Williams and Tuck having efforts cleared off the line then cleared to safety.
Despite Town’s pressure on the Ruthin goal, it was the home side who took the lead midway through the half. Hinchcliffe, who had opened the scoring, broke into the box and weave his way through to get a shot in, and his effort beat Turner to give the homeside the lead. The Wellmen were reeling from the goal and made a couple of substitutions to try to get anything out of the game. Sub Sam Jones had a shot saved well by Jones, before Paul Williams saw his fierce shot strike Jones’ chest and cleared to safety. Steve Thomas then lay the ball off well to Jon Jones, but his shot was saved well, before sub Jack Laird, making his Holywell Town debut, headed wide.
William Owen nearly increased Ruthin’s lead with a few minutes remaining but Turner once again saved well before a couple of half chances fell to Tuck and sub Graeme Williams, but these didn’t really test the Ruthin keeper, and with that, the referee blew for full time and a disappointed Holywell came off the pitch having lost the match 2-1. The Wellmen will now be looking to bounceback next week at Penrhyncoch before the big Festive Period Match against Flint Town United.