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STAZI'S
STARS GO TOP
By Dave Jones
SUBSTITUTE Craig Griffiths' injury time goal put the seal
on a Rhyl win which looked in doubt after they had led
3-0 but been pegged back to 3-2. The victory gave Jon
Stazicker's side a two-point lead at the top of the Welsh
Alliance although second placed Bethesda Athletic have
played three games less. Llanrug started brightly and
almost took a ninth minute advantage when Mathew Phillips'
back header from a David Noel Williams free-kick missed
the target by inches.
Rhyl gradually settled and on 17 minutes Adam France's
looping header from a Scott Millington corner was nodded
off the line by Chris Joyce. Millington's low, whipped
in corners were troubling the Llanrug defence and sure
enough on 21 minutes a delivery from the right was missed
by the visiting rearguard and James Hay pounced to score
from close range. Gareth Hughes had a great opportunity
to test United keeper Aled Williams from 20 yards but
delayed his shot too long and the eventual effort lacked
conviction.
Llanrug's Christian Jarvis burst into the area on 33 minutes
but after his first shot was blocked, the follow up was
kept out comfortably by Jamie Jones. In the 40th minute
Hughes' pace took him clear of the reds defence, but Williams
saved well. However, the ball ended up coming into the
box from the left and arrived at the feet of Hay who blasted
into an empty net for 2-0. There was controversy a minute
later when giant keeper Williams callously took out the
diminutive Roose as he chased a through ball. The referee
surprisingly decided to only issue a yellow card to the
keeper.
Half-time: 2-0 Rhyl.
Four minutes into the second half the Lilywhites looked
to have the game won when Keiron Evans fed Joe Ahern on
the right and his low cross was finished off in typical
poacher's style by Roose who notched his sixth goal of
the season. A brilliantly worked goal. Dan Pyrs' 30-yard
attempt dipped just over for the visitors, then keeper
Williams and Roose competed for a through ball again.
Roose slid for the ball and this time caught Williams,
perhaps evening up the score. Roose was cautioned.
Evans and Hay
went close for the Lilies before on 73 minutes Llanrug
launched a comeback, Phillips crossing to the back post
where Carl Griffiths volleyed home.
Now the visitors' tails were up. A Jarvis shot hit Robert
Hugh Williams and looped over keeper Jones but fortunately
clipped the bar. Then in the 85th minute RH Williams was
fouled just outside the box and the lethal David Noel
Williams scored with a brilliant free-kick.
It was squeaky bottom time for Rhyl now, but there were
no more clear chances for the visitors and three minutes
into injury time Griffiths beat keeper Williams to a through
ball and netted number four. Griffiths was then yellow
carded for taunting the Llanrug custodian, a man mountain
who has produced several fine displays at Belle Vue in
the past but this was not his night.
All in all,
the game was a great advert for Welsh Alliance football.
RHYL RES:
J Jones, Ahern, Morgan, France, T Roberts, Brewerton (C
Evans 82), K Evans, Hay, Hughes (Griffiths 76), Roose,
Millington (Patel 76).
LLANRUG UTD: A Williams, C Jarvis, C Joyce, E Williams,
M Bohana (A Owen 45), G P Jones ( G Edwards 70), D Pyrs,
D N Williams, C Griffiths, R H Williams, M Phillips.
MATCH
FACTS
GOALS - Rhyl 4 Llanrug 2
ATTEMPTS - Rhyl 12 Llanrug 8
ON TARGET - Rhyl 8 Llanrug 4
CORNERS - Rhyl 5 Llanrug 7
YELLOW CARDS - Rhyl 3 Llanrug 1
RED CARDS - Rhyl 0 Llanrug 0
ATTENDANCE - 75
MAN OF THE MATCH RHYL RES:
Scott Millington.
MAN OF THE MATCH LLANRUG UTD:
Dan Pyrs.
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2008/2009 