Holywell Town 2-3 Llandudno

With the pitch passing an early morning pitch inspection, The Wellmen got the game underway and won the first free kick, and Luke Edwards ball into the box found Jacob Wise but he was unable to get his header on target. Llandudno won a free kick with 11 minutes played as James Graham was adjudged to have handled the ball, and Robert Parry’s free kick hit the wall of defenders and Town were able to clear their lines. Town then went up the other end and Jacob Wise done well, getting to the byline but his low cross was gathered by Shaun Pearson.
Town go close with 17 minutes played, a great move down the right see’s Luke Edwards burst down to the byline, his low cross finds Shaun Tuck and his shot is blocked and the loose ball is cleared with Tuck lurking to get a shot in on goal. Town were then put under pressure as Llandudno pressed forward, a good ball in to Parry saw him head the ball towards goal but was cleared, then the ball fell to Daniel Hughes but his shot flew over the bar. Shortly afterwards, Town were behind. The ball fell to Llandudno’s Robert Parry, he controlled and ran forward then hit an unstoppable shot towards goal which beat Mike Platt.
Town looked for an instant response and Mark Connolly’s low shot was only inches wide of Pearson’s post, then a good move saw Tuck feed the ball through to Sam Jones, his deft chip towards the far post was only a few inches away from the onrushing Mark Connolly. Town’s forward Connolly saw another effort blocked and from the resulting corner, Jacob Wise got to the ball but his header fell inches past the post.
Town got their deserved goal on the stroke of half time. A great corner into the box saw Shaun Tuck get to the ball, and he got his head to it to force it into the back of the net. The goal was no more than Town deserved and the teams went in at the break with the scores all level at 1-1.

The second half got underway and Town looked to carry on where they left off in the first half. Town won a free kick a minute into the game, and Luke Edwards lofted a great ball into the box but Wise rose well but his header went over the bar. Town then found themselves behind a minute later, Daniel Hughes strike beating Platt to give Llandudno the lead. The goal lifted the visitors and the goalscorer tried again from distance but Hughes’ effort went high over the crossbar. Town pressed forward for the equaliser, Tony Roebuck and Sam Jones battling well in midfield trying to create an opening. Dean Seager rolled a shot wide of Platt’s post. Platt was on hand to pull off a great save to prevent Hughes getting his second of the game, then Platt punched away a dangerous ball into the box from a Llandudno corner.
Town won a free kick and Sam Jones perfect ball into the box found Jacob Wise but his header unfortunately went over the bar. Town were Indebted to Mike Platt shortly afterwards as he pulled off a great save from Danny Hughes. Shaun Pearson was the hero for Llandudno a few minutes later as he produced a great save to deny Sam Jones’ powerful shot from hitting the back of the net. As the game entered the final 5 minutes, Town found themselves further behind as Llandudno sub Bryan Roberts increased the visitors lead, forcing the ball home at the far post.
Town didn’t give up despite the goal and kept on pressing for another goal, and sub Dylan Allshorn was causing problems down the wing with his pace, and as he ran down the byline, he was brought down by Llandudno’s Lee Thomas, which saw both sets of players reacting to the challenge. Town’s James Graham and Sam Jones both saw red and also Llandudno’s Lee Thomas saw red for the initial challenge. When the game got back underway, Town pulled a goal back from the resulting free kick from the foul on Allshorn, as Mark Connolly got on the end of the free kick and forced the ball home. Llandudno’s keeper Shaun Pearson thought he had been fouled seconds before the goal, and his protests to the referee also saw him see red so both sides were reduced to 9 men.
Town sensed that they could have sneaked a late leveller, and Jacob Wise effort was saved well by the Llandudno defender Lewis Sirrell who had taken Pearson’s place amongst the posts. The Wellmen were unable to snatch an equaliser and sadly bowed out of this season’s JD Welsh Cup Competition.