Barmouth & Dyffryn 1 - 3 Holywell Town

Barmouth & Dyffryn 1-3 Holywell Town

Holywell Town returned from Barmouth & Dyffryn after a solid performance saw the wellmen win 3-1. The result also gained revenge on the opening day defeat to Barmouth.

Town had a dream start with only a minute on the clock. A long kick from defence looked to be easy for the defender to deal with, but the bounce eluded him in the sun and Steve Thomas picked up the loose ball. He released Ian Griffiths with an inch perfect pass. Griffiths ran into the box and beat the challenge of Dave Linstead, and rounded the advancing Darren Andrews to slot the ball home.

It was nearly 2 a few minutes later as Thomas again ran at the defence, he looked across and saw Captain Paul Williams in space and passed the ball across to him. Tom Carney made a great run in from the right and Williams lay the ball off to him but his shot went over the bar.
On 12 minutes, Barmouth had a chance to equalise when Linstead was only inches wide with a header from a corner. A few minutes later however, Town had doubled their lead. Another attack down the right and Carney beat his man before passing to Tony Roebuck who having beaten the challenge of Steve Bratt, shot past Andrews and the ball went into the net via the post.

Barmouth pulled one back 10 minutes later, Bobby Griffiths was brought down inside the area and Shane Jones scored from the resulting kick, despite Danny Stanton getting a touch to the ball. Both teams looked to add to their tally before the break, a great move by the Wellmen involving Williams and Griffiths saw Steve Thomas’ effort go over the bar, then, Barmouth’s Rob Murfet saw his header go inches wide.

The score was still 2-1 at the break, and 3 minutes into the second half, recent signing Josh Roberts nearly opened his account but his 30 yard effort hit the crossbar and went out for a goal kick. 3 minutes later and Ian Griffiths was fouled a few yards outside the box, Roberts, fresh from his effort a few minutes earlier, hit a great free kick which Andrews couldn’t hold and the loose ball fell to Carney but his effort was saved by Andrews.

Barmouth then broke with Murfet crossing well, but Ashley Durham was able to clear the ball out for a corner, and from the resulting corner, Paul Lewis’ header went over the bar. The next chance fell to Holywell, Steve Thomas lay the ball off to Danny Sullivan who’s shot flew over the bar. Barmouth then won a free kick in a dangerous position, and Shane Jones’ effort was brilliantly saved by Stanton. On the hour mark, Andrews saved brilliantly from Thomas before Stanton once again kept Town in the game with another good save from Jones.

Thomas once again broke clear and was brought down in the box but the referee waived play on despite the appeals from the Wellmen before Paul Williams was put through by Marc Gunther but he shot straight at Andrews who gathered well. Williams made amends a minute later by getting Towns third and wrapped up the points. Andrews raced out to clear from Thomas, but the ball fell to Williams in his own half. He looked up and saw that Andrews was well off his line and running back. Williams hit it and the ball flew goalwards. Andrews running back managed to get a Hand to it but the ball had already crossed the line and his attempted save saw the ball and himself end up in the side netting!

It was a massive 3 points for the Wellmen as we made some ground on the teams above us in the league. The result had greater importance when we heard that Caernarfon Town had lost at Glantraeth. The victory made it 9 straight wins for the Wellmen, and their 14th win in 15 games, the other game being the 1-1 draw at Gwalchmai in September. Roll on next Saturdays Welsh Cup game against Caerau Ely.......