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Match
Report by Huwsi
UNITED
THRASH LOWLY VALE ….
Nantlle Vale suffered their heaviest defeat of the campaign
at the hands of a very spirited and refreshed looking
United, however the victory for United should have been
more emphatic as loads more chances went begging. Although
a great win, some in the United camp were not happy with
my report writing of late, criticism isn't always easy
to take I suppose (least of all by me!!!), and one was
more sensitive than the others, declaring that he too
has feelings!! In an effort to ease things over, I've
asked a few of the supporters for their views on Wednesday's
match and with no names mentioned I'll try and restrict
the criticisms raised (yeh, if you believe that you'll
believe anything!!). (And by the way, everyone I've spoken
to say that the back pass in Nefyn was heavy - at least
I tamed it down by using 'heavyish'!!!! you've got to
laugh, otherwise the only option would be to cry when
you consider some of the performances of late - me being
over critical? I don't think so!)
Back
into the starting line-up came Gareth Eifion Jones (from
injury) and Andrew Williams (from work commitments) and
a call up for Aled Roberts for his first appearance for
the first team this season, Dewi Jones was again between
the United posts with Luke a spectator carrying an injury,
however he did manage to catch the ball at the by-line
by the dug-out (lucky it didn't bounce is what someone
by my side said!!).
It
didn't take long at all for Gareth Eifion to continue
with his expression of good form of late and claimed his
second hat trick in as many weeks. It only took two minutes
for him to claim his first, when he met a Gethin Phillips
throw after only two minutes and "cushioned a well
placed header passed the visiting keeper's near post".
I'm reliably informed that his form of late is down to
the coaching he got some 15 years earlier in his Llanrug
Utd 'Junior' days by non other than United's very own
Mr David Phillips. I suppose when you reach the ripe old
age of 50, then delusions of grandeur can only be expected,
and why not - Penblwydd hapus ar gyfer y 27ain o Ebrill
Mr Phillips.
This
was another exhibition in football by United, very nice
football which resulted in a few "team goals"
which saw the defence get in on the action as well. David
Noel Williams was very influential (I was told to get
his name in every other sentence, but the cheque hasn't
cleared yet!) he laid on chance after chance one of which
resulted in the second goal after 28 minutes when he released
Gareth Eifion into the right side of the visitor's penalty
area, but with a lot still to do, Gareth coolly passed
the keeper and once again beat him at his near post.
Gareth
Eifion's third was one of those great "team goals",
Dan Pyrs the main instigator this time, from well in his
own half he had a number of one-two's (I'm sure Charlie
was involved somewhere) which saw him take the ball up
the right flank and delivered the most accurate cross
of his career so far for Gareth to nod in to the centre
of the net from a couple of yards - great goal. Five minutes
later and it was four - nil, unfortunately I missed this
one but here's what was said "a goalmouth scramble
following a corner (must have been Charlie again then?)
and Eifion got a shot 'hosan' which he celebrated in pansy
fashion" (who am I to criticise when others are more
than willing?!).
A
couple of minutes before the interval the visiting keeper
denied Carl Griffiths with a hand when Charlie released
him on goal but apparently four was enough for the first
half!
The
second half started much the same as the first had finished,
United were at full throttle and within five minutes Gareth
Eifion was denied a fourth goal when his fine effort from
the edge of the area was tipped over by the keeper. The
resulting corner eventually found its way to Aled Roberts
way out on the left flank and his sweeping effort from
30 - 35 yards struck the bar. The 58th minute saw Eifion
Williams advance into the opposition half with confidence
but the final ball was poor to say the least (me being
critical, I don't think so!). A minute later and Dan mustered
a great through ball from the centre circle to release
Gareth Eifion, but the keeper came out to his 18 yard
line and timed his tackle to perfection to deny Gareth
his fourth. Gethin Phillips and Andrew Williams got shots
in before United claimed their fifth, Andy and none other
than Charlie linked well in the area, with Vale's defence
shredded into pieces by the determination and skill of
Charlie as he progressed into the six yard box and made
no mistake.
Gavin
Rogerson came on for Aled Roberts in the 63 minute, and
what determination he showed, not afraid to go in hard
and more often than not he came out with the ball. By
this stage the ball was more or less fixed in Vale's half
and Carl Griffiths, Gareth Eifion and Carl Wayne had efforts
at goal before United claimed their sixth. Once again
Charlie the instigator, he found Andy at the right side
edge of the area who in turn found Carl Griffiths on the
penalty spot who coolly placed the ball passed the keeper's
right. Within a minute and Eifion was determined to add
to his tally of 'one', in the visitor's area he dribbled
passed a couple of defenders and unleashed his left boot,
but his goal bound effort was met by a Vale head and out
for a corner. He again got in on the action from the corner,
but as usual nothing came of it! Within minutes Andy had
another effort at goal but it lacked venom, and Charlie
released Dan with a fine over the top ball, but Dan was
too slow to capitalise and it went for a goal-kick! The
resulting goal-kick saw what I think was Dewi's first
save, when Vale advanced but Dewi blocked with his feet
from around 20 yards.
The
82nd minute saw the miss of the match, with only the keeper
to beat from around three yards, substitute Keith Williams
found and air-kick and resembled Tinkerbelle - shocking
miss, but Chris Joyce (feelings aside) saved his blushes
a minute later when a Vale player lunged at, and floored
Charlie in the area, and being the gentleman that he is
Charlie, allowed Joyce a piece of the action (as he'd
been screaming for the ball for the last 15 minutes, determined
for a goal and not to be out one by Eifion! CJ made no
mistake from the spot, a perfect penalty; low straight
to the corner passed the keeper's right (when he was in
the shower Sir Alex phoned asking if he wanted a coaching
role at Old Trafford!). The goal must have boosted Joyce's
confidence, as two minutes later he was up there again,
but from 35 yards his thunderous shot was nearer Dol Afon
than Vale's goal, and a throw-in to Vale some 10 yards
from the corner flag (shocking!).
Things
were rounded off in the 87th minute when non other than
DAVID NOEL WILLIAMS (is that enough time's Charlie, or
shall I return the cheque?) claimed his second, a very
good effort from Gavin Rogerson which Vale's keeper parried
into the path of Charlie who tapped in from three yards
out and within seconds the referee blew for full time
(so much for 90 minutes!).
A
much needed win for United following three successive
4 - 3 away defeats, a fine performance and some very attractive
football, and got Man of the Match? Yes you've guessed
it, it was DAVID NOEL WILLIAMS. Next up second placed
Rhydymwyn at Eithin Duon on Saturday, let's hope for a
similar performance, to set things up nicely for a trip
to league leader's Bethesda Athletic the following Tuesday.
There
you go, a match report without a single criticism nor
sarcasm in sight, things are much easier when United win,
and even more so following a thrashing, no one to blame
and no one cares who made mistakes, not that any were
made on Wednesday I hasten to add.
LLANRUG
UNITED:
Dewi Jones, Gethin Phillips, Chris Joyce, Carl Wayne Jones,
Eifion Williams, Aled Roberts(Gavin Rogerson - 63 mins),
Dan Pyrs, David Noel Williams, Carl Griffiths, Gareth
Eifion Jones (Keith Williams - 79 mins), Andrew Williams
((Gwyn Pritchard Jones - 81 mins).
SUBS
(Not Used): Gwion Llwyd.
MOTM:
David
Noel Williams
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2008/2009 