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Match
Report fron Huwsi
United
Youngsters save the day at Eithin Duon
Having
lost their last home encounter 9-0 to league favourites
Bethesda Athletic, United had a tough encounter and a
lot to prove against league leaders Rhyl Reserves (plus
one or two first team regulars!) on Saturday. United started
with the same young team that earned a well deserved point
at Holywell the previous Saturday, apart from Mathew Phillips
who's return to college saw Andrew Williams return to
the side. United's defence marshalled by Captain Eifion
Williams proved to be well and truly back after their
brief spell away!!
My
recollection of the first half is somewhat vague to say
the least, as I had been temporarily promoted to Chief
Cook and Bottle Washer and was thrown in to Hell's Kitchen
to serve the tea and soup to a very disappointing turn-out
at Eithin Duon, but the lack of custom meant I didn't
miss too much!
It
didn't take long for Rhyl to gain the advantage with first
team regular Carl Owen netting after 10 minutes to strong
shouts of 'off side' by United's Rearguard, but the Assistant
Referee thought otherwise. Rhyl's second was also suspiciously
off side, Rhyl's top marksman, Mike Roose got a double
take after 20 minutes, he broke down the left flank but
his first effort went inches wide of United custodian,
Luke Hughes' left post. The resulting Goal Kick went straight
back to Rhyl and returned to Roose for an easy tap-in
from 6yards out, off side or not, Rhyl were 2-0 up.
Rhyl
were awarded a free kick just outside the area for hand
ball by the boss, Aled Owen after 24 minutes, and visions
of the last home encounter were threatening to spoil the
day, however Rhyl's effort went a yard or so wide. Another
three minutes and United were awarded a penalty, when
Man of the match Gareth Eifion Jones was pulled back when
attempting to volley a David Noel corner and Charlie made
no mistake from the spot, 27 minutes played, 1 - 2 and
game on.
Rhyl's
response was almost immediate, when they had three or
four minutes of pounding efforts towards United's goal,
Luke pulling off a fine save when he faced Roose one-on-one,
then Aled Owen blocking a goal bound effort and another
free kick just outside the area was taken quickly by Roose
but went inches wide of the top left corner. A minute
later the referee awarded Rhyl with a throw in which clearly
came off one of their own (he didn't have a good day at
all, booking for dissent but letting violent conduct go
unpunished!!) the ball was released down the left flank
and the resulting cross left an easy header for Roose
to net his second from three yards out. United had a couple
of chances to even the score before half time with Gareth
Eifion's cross from the right after 35 minutes taken by
a fully stretched Rhyl keeper, ex Holyhead Hotspur, Caernarfon
Town and Connah's Quay Nomads, Paul Pritchard and a David
Noel free-kick after 43 minutes was tipped over the bar
by Pritchard for a corner, HT 1 - 3.
The
Half Time talk by Aled Owen had an immediate effect, David
Noel Williams claiming his second within a minute of the
resumption, his effort to the bottom right corner from
six yards out left Paul Pritchard stuck to the spot. Some
say it was a miss-kick, but I think Charlie wrong footed
Pritchard with a good tactical move! Only another two
minutes to wait for matters to be evened up, Carl Griffiths'
cross into the area saw Rhyl's defence fail to clear,
and Andy Williams picked up the ball and unleashed an
unstoppable right footer to the top right corner, which
once again saw Paul Pritchard stuck to the spot, 3 - 3
and Rhyl were shell-shocked.
Luke
Hughes once again kept United in the game when he pulled
a fine save from a Rhyl free-kick after 56 minutes, however
the second half was well and truly United's. Gareth Eifion's
strike after 64 minutes gave United the lead for the first
time, he controlled a left sided throw in from fullback
Gethin Phillips and on the turn unleashed a powerful effort
passed Paul Pritchard to the top left corner, with Rhyl's
keeper once again stuck to his spot! United continued
with the pressure on Rhyl's goal and could easily have
scored at least anther two or three, but Gareth Eifion's
cross into the area with 15 minutes remaining saw Andy
steer inches wide, and seven minutes later David Noel
forced a fine save from Pritchard the resulting ball being
parried into the path of advancing Gareth Eifion who's
shot was saved by Pritchard, a delicate chip would have
been a better option maybe.
Rhyl
tried to rescue the situation and salvage a point but
United's defence and Luke Hughes were up for the job and
United got a fantastic result which not doubt will be
a boost before next Saturday's home fixture against Holywell
Town in the first Round of the Barritt Cup.
Rhyl
left Eithin Duon with their tails between their legs,
and didn't even stop to eat the food prepared for them
by United President and Penbont landlady Wendy Jones,
however this gave some of Penbont's drinkers the chance
to increase their 'spare tyres'!!
LLANRUG
UNITED:
Luke Hughes, Gethin Phillips, Chris Joyce, Eifion Williams,
Aled Owen, Gwyn Pritchard Jones, Dan Pyrs, David Noel
Williams, Carl Griffiths, Gareth Eifion Jones, Andy William
(Gavin Rogerson - 87mins). Sub
not used: Martin Bohana. MOTM:
Gareth Eifion Jones (forward).
RHYL
RESERVES:
Paul Pritchard, Sam Brewerton, Tom Roberts, Sean Morgan,
Sam Heenan, Tom Patel, Jack Roberts, James Hay, Keiron
Evans, Mike Roose, Carl Owen. Subs:
none. MOTM:
Jack Roberts (midfield).
%2015.11.2008.jpg) |
United's
Captain Eifion Williams in a tussle with Rhyl's experianced
forward Carl Owen. |
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United's
experianced full-back Chris Joyce in conrtol of
possesion.
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%2015.11.2008.jpg) |
Match
Report Dave Jones (Lillywhites online)
RESERVES
BLOW IT AT LLANRUG
ALTHOUGH
they journeyed to Eithin Duon with the bare 11 players
and had eight regulars missing, manager Jon Stazicker
refused to make excuses for Rhyl's poor showing which
saw them blow a 3-1 half time lead and end up losers on
their travels again. "We
switched off completely in the second half and to concede
three goals so quickly as we did was nothing short of
a disgrace," said Stazicker. "Yet again our
away form let us down and things must improve."
The visitors started well and James Hay missed with a
free header from a Jack Roberts corner before the Lilywhites
took a 10th minute lead. Carl
Owen played a great one-two with Jack Roberts before firing
into the bottom corner to break the deadlock. It
became 2-0 after 20 minutes when Hay rounded keeper Luke
Hughes and although the ball was heading for the net Mike
Roose made sure and got the final touch.
Rhyl
were unlucky not to win a penalty when Gareth Eifion Jones
appeared to have handled inside the box, but a free-kick
was given instead which Owen blasted just wide. Then on
26 minutes Sam Brewerton needlessly pulled down David
Noel Williams in the area and a spot-kick was awarded
which Williams himself despatched. Jon Stazicker's men
were on top, though, and on 32 minutes Owen set up Roose
to head home his second and 13th of the season from close
range. Roose went close with two other efforts before
the break.
A
sloppy start to the second period cost Rhyl dear. The
visitors failed to clear their lines and David Noel Williams
fired the loose ball into the bottom right-hand corner.And
two minutes later it was 3-3 when Andrew Williams cut
in from the left and lashed a great effort into the top
corner.Shellshocked
Rhyl rallied, a Jack Roberts free-kick well saved by Hughes
before Brewerton had a header cleared off the line. But
on 64 minutes a long Llanrug throw came to Gareth Eifion
Jones who neatly chested the ball down and his shot on
the turn beat Paul Pritchard to make it 4-3.
That was the end of the road for Rhyl who were unable
to respond and were left to reflect on a disappointing
third league defeat of the season which leaves them five
points clear at the top of the Welsh Alliance, but second
placed Bethesda now have six games in hand.
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2008/2009 