Holywell Town 3-3 Buckley Town

On a lovely sunny spring afternoon, Holywell Town welcomed bottom placed Buckley Town to Halkyn Road, looking for a further 3 points to boost their chances of a top 5 finish. The Wellmen knew it would be a tough game with Buckley scrapping for points to avoid relegation out of the Huws Gray Alliance.

The game started brightly and the first opportunity fell to Holywell Town, a Paul D Williams through ball saw Jamie McDaid chase for the ball and through one on one with the keeper but as he was about to shoot, the referee blew for offside as the assistants flag was raised. The next chance resulted in a goal, and unfortunately for Town, it went the visitors way.

The Wellmen conceded a free Kick in a dangerous position, and Mike Thompson's free kick was headed home by Phil Molyneux, who's header flew into the far corner with Paul Turner beaten. The goal spurned the Wellmen to life, as the reds looked to get back on level terms as soon as possible. A few minutes later, a good moved for Town involving Paul D Williams and Phil Lloyd saw the ball get as far as the Stags penalty area, but the move broke down with Cory Leggett interception the ball, and his long ball over the top released Asa Hamilton to run on goal, his shot flew high over the bar and out for a goal kick, which was fortunate for the reds as a second goal would have made it difficult for the home side to get back into the game.

More buckley pressure saw Hamilton have a shot saved well by Turner then Town found the net to draw the sides level. Town won a corner and Steve Thomas' kick found the head of debutant Matthew Kendrick, and his header found the back of the net via the cross bar. Buckley striker then saw and effort go wide before a lovely ball by Paul D WIlliams to Jamie McDaid saw the striker fire inches wide of the target. Buckley's Jacob Evans then shot wide before Cory Scarsbrick brought a good save out of Paul Turner on the stroke of half time.

The second half begun with both sides on equal terms, and with Buckley Town having the majority of the chances in the first half, the Wellmen looked to improve in this second half. It was Buckley who had the first real chance on goal, Hamilton's shot coming back off the post before been cleared to safety by Town's Jonathon Jones. It wasn't long however before Buckley took the lead for the second time in the match, Mike Thompson finishing off a good move by the visitors.

Town then lost striker Shaun Tuck with a ankle injury and he was replaced by Mark Winslade, and to make matters worse for the wellmen, Phil Lloyd was carried off with a knee injury and he was replaced by Ryan Davidson. It was substitute Mark Winslade who drew the Wellmen level, an effort by Graeme Williams comes back off the post and Winsalde was on hand to control the ball then poke the ball home to level the scores at 2-2.

The Wellmen then took the lead. A Graeme Williams shot was blocked, and fell kindly back to him where he controlled the ball and fired home to put the Wellmen 3-2 up with 7 minutes to play. Town looked to make the game safe and Ryan Davidson had a shot saved before Town were lucky not to concede as Scarsbrick had an effort come back into play off the cross bar. With the game deep into injury time, Town conceded a free kick in a dangerous position. Buckley's Andy Watkin stood over the ball and his free kick beat the wall and flew into the top corner to rescue a deserved point for Buckley Town with virtually the last kick of the game.

The Wellmen have 2 games remaining in the Huws Gray Alliance league and next week entertain Llanfair United in our last home game of the season where we will be looking to round off our home campaign with 3 points.