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Huwsi's view..............
United cruise to second round of Barritt Cup
Llanrug United advanced into the next round of the Barritt Cup with comparable ease, with their Clwyd Premier League opponent’s discipline being their main obstacle. Two goals within the first four minutes followed by a third after a quarter of an hour was enough to show the visitors that United meant business.
Following the recent bad weather, this was the first match United played since 7 th November when Junction came to Eithin Duon and stole the points in injury time. All the postponements that Andrew Williams has been unable to complete his suspension, and bearing in mind that this fixture was in the Barritt Cup he still has a game to serve, which, weather permitting will be at Glan Conwy next Saturday. Gethin Phillips was back in the starting line-up following his suspension and David Noel Williams, who parted company with United for a brief spell (but homesickness got the better of him!), was back not having missed a game, but Simon Sedgwick must have had the Canaries practicing their set play, especially the long corners!!!!
Mathew Phillips opened United’s tally in the second minute, a cross from the right flank to Mathews feet on the left side had the Rovers defenders claiming off-side, but the assistant referee was having none of it and Mathew advanced from 25 yards out to finish through the keeper’s legs. United were awarded a penalty in the fourth minute for hand ball, and David Noel made no mistake from the spot, sending the visiting keeper to his left, whilst Charlie coolly found the back of the net to his right.
Carl Griffiths increased the United’s lead in the 15 th minute when he ended a very fine move. Carl Wayne Jones won the ball in the centre of the park, passed to Joyce on the left wing, who knocked up field to Rhys Roberts, then inwards to Gareth Eifion, who’s back heal was perfectly weighted to Charlie into the left side of the penalty box, and Charlie glided passed a couple of defenders before delivering a fine cross to Carl Griffiths on the six yard line, who in turn guided the ball into the bottom left corner of the net.
Although United had a number of opportunities to increase the lead and make the game well out of Rovers’ reach, chances went begging. Mathew Phillips timed his run to perfection in the 28 th minute, he stayed on side and collected an over the top ball and with only the advancing keeper to beat, he rounded him with ease, but went slightly too wide on the left side, and although he got his effort on target a defender managed to throw himself at the goal bound effort, and although there were strong shouts of hand ball, United were only awarded a corner.
Gareth Eifion was the next culprit, he and Rhys Roberts advanced well into the area with a nice one-two but Gareth scuffed his final effort wide. It took up to three minutes from the interval for Abergele to get their first real chance, but following a low cross from the right the shot from the edge of the area was nearer the corner flag the goal post. Within a minute, Rovers were awarded a right sided corner which was cleared by United’s defence but only some 25 yards out, Rhys Roberts slipped whilst trying to knock forward, which allowed Rovers a half chance, but the strike was a yard or two wide of the right side upright. Half time, 3-0 but should have been five or six!
The second half started more or less like the first finished, but Rovers’ discipline was stretching Heinz Broering’s patient’s to the limit and he ended up booking six of them and unfortunately a couple of United’s player’s got caught in their tactics and got a mention in Mr Broering’s book as well. Gareth Eifion extended United’s lead in the 62 nd minute, a nice move started in midfield by Charlie, he found Rhys Roberts on the right, who in turn returned to Charlie who split the defence with a fine ball down the middle which allowed ‘The Man In Tights’ to slide the ball under the visiting keeper from ten yards out.
Although this effectively killed off the game, United don’t like having things easy and a few heated exchanges which saw David Ball and Ceirion Williams reacting to intimidation and being booked, Eifion Williams decided he would give the visitors a bit of a lift when he headed into his own net as he dived to meet a Rovers’ cross from the left. Had it been the other end then it would surely been a contended for goal of the match! This did lift Abergele and United were under a bit of pressure for five minutes or so, Gethin Phillips threw himself to block an effort on the six yard line in the 80 th minute, and a right sided corner in the 83 rd minute was floated into the danger area, United failed to clear with distance which saw the ball coming straight back, but the head that met it could only drop it nicely for Dave Ball to collect.
Having had a hand in nearly all the goals (apart from Eifion’s!), Charlie struck the out side of the post in the last minute of normal play, in a move which he (once again) started with an over the top ball to Mathew Phillips on the left flank, Mathew advanced into the area and found Charlie on the 18 yard line, who took a controlling touch before trying to place the ball inside the left upright but he was four inches off the mark! Mr Broering found six minutes of injury time (from all the bookings I suppose) but the United’s rearguard held strong and the visitors could not close the gap.
Not the best game of football by any stretch of the imagination, but United got the job done and knocked out Clwyd Premier League leaders Abergele Rovers and have been rewarded with a tough tie in the third round with a trip to Gwynedd League leaders Gwalchmai on 16 th January. Next up for United are Glan Conwy away on Saturday before back to back encounters with Llanberis over the festivities – at Llanberis on Boxing Day and home on 2 nd January.
LLANRUG UNITED : Dave Ball, Gethin Phillips, Chris Joyce, Ceirion Williams, Eifion Williams (Capt), Carl Wayne Jones, Carl Griffiths (Gavin Rogerson – 64 mins), David Noel Williams, Gareth Eifion Jones, Mathew Phillips, Rhys Roberts.
SUBS (not used): Aled Owen.
Man Of The Match: Dave Ball. |
2009/2010 