The Wellmen travelled to Rhyl’s Educate Stadium hoping to get back to winning ways after last week’s home defeat to Buckley Town.
The game started well for the Wellmen with the first chance of the evening falling to Damien Ketley, who’s shot was saved well by Rory Crowther in the Rhyl goal. A few minutes later it was Rhyl’s turn, the home side won a corner, with the ball coming out to Reece Fairhurst, but his shot from just outside the area flies over the bar. A few minutes later, a good run by Ketley and his low cross into the box finds Mark Winslade but his shot is blocked and cleared to safety. The Wellmen had the majority of the possession, and Town won a couple of free kicks from the left hand side, but the balls were whipped in on both occasions but Rhyl’s defence cleared the danger on both occasions. Shortly afterwards, the dangerous Winslade intercepted a loose ball across the back four, he bursts goalwards but his shot is blocked.
Rhyl also had chances, and from a corner, Sam Molyneux’s glancing header was deflected out for another corner, then from the resulting corner, the ball falls perfectly to Rhyl’s Liam Smith but he blazes the ball over the crossbar. Aubrey Rogers then went close for the Wellmen, ball out to him on the right and looping cross beats everyone and drops inches wide of Crowther’s far post. The Wellmen were now on top and looking the likely to take the lead, and another good move saw Tony Roebuck pass the ball to Josh Maldon, and his ball to Sam Jones saw him volley it back into the box and Ketley was unlucky not to get his shot away sliding towards goal. Minutes later, Ketley got the better of him marker yet again, and burst forward but his low cross flew past the keeper but no one was there to the far side to steer the ball home.
The home side then put the Wellmen under pressure, first was Mike Pritchard, picking up the ball on the edge of the area but his shot goes wide of French’ right hand post, then moments later, Liam Smith finds himself in space but his shot goes over the bar. Then, French kept the Wellmen in the game with a great double save, firstly, he was down low to palm away a shot and from the resulting rebound, again was there to block away the shot for a corner. From the resulting corner, Fairhurst heading wide of the goal before the referee blew for half time.
The second half got underway and Town again started well, the first chance falling to Winslade who picked up the ball on the edge of the area, controlled it then turns and shoots but his goalbound effort is saved well by Crowther. Disaster tehn struck the Wellmen as the home side took the lead. Cai Owen picked up the ball on the left and cut inside, he made a quick 1-2 pass with his team mate before picking up the ball and running into the box, Roebuck was there to challenge but the ball took a slight knock off Roebuck’s shin and fell kindly to Owen who was able to control and fire the ball into the back of the net. The goal was harsh on Town but the Wellmen didn’t let their heads drop and battled looking for a deserved equaliser.
Dan Dobbins then put in a timely sliding tackle to force the ball out for a corner with the Rhyl player threatening, then Town went close with Josh Maldon’s ball out wide found Ketley, and his low cross finds Winslade but his effort goes wide of the post. The next move saw Ketley burst into the box and he was brought down but the referee waved away Town’s appeals for a penalty. Another good move see’s the ball come up to Winslade, who controls well and his curling shot flies inches wide of Crowther’s post with the goalkeeper beaten.
As the game entered the final 5 minutes, Crowther again saved well from Sam Jones volley and despite pressing for a goal, Town were unable to find the back of the net and a great spirited performance unfortunately heralded no return and the Wellmen left Rhyl disappointed not to pick up at least a point. The Wellmen next travel to Guilsfield on Saturday before travelling to Denbigh Town the following Tuesday for the re-arranged game.