Huwsi's view .................
Welsh Trophy misery for below par United
A very flat performance by United meant that they fell at the first hurdle in this season’s Welsh Trophy competition. It was not what the Eithin Duon faithful were expecting to see after fine performances of late, but it proved to be one of those days against bogey side Pwllheli.
Missing due to an injury was influential youngster Iwan Price, who hobbled into the ground on crutches following a midweek injury suffered playing for his school. Also absent was Andrew Williams who following his impossible to miss – misses on his previous two outings, decided that washing cars in the ‘Charity Car Wash’ at the Caernarfon Fire Station was more apt! (not really he was on holiday in Malta!). Back into the starting line-up came fit again (!) Gareth Eifion Jones, and Chris Joyce took time out from son Ryan’s hospital bedside. We were all glad to hear that Ryan is making good progress with his recovery following the serious road accident the previous weekend – dal ati Ryan.
With Andy missing Mathew Phillips took over the roll of missing the un missable, when in the 7 th minute he latched on to an over the top ball, controlled nicely and chipped over the defence and advancing keeper and followed through to the 6 yard box to tap home, but he must have taken his eye off the ball as his final touch was with his shin and went frustratingly wide. I’ll forget the abacus this Christmas and get his a Specsaver voucher I think! This unfortunately was a sign of things to come.
Before the visitors took the lead in the 28 th minute, David Noel Williams had the chance for United to take the lead, with a trademark free-kick some 22 yards out, but his effort went a yard over Ian Aikman’s bar. Pwllheli’s first was well executed though, a long throw across the box eluded United’s defence and found it’s way to Ben Chippendale, who’s volley left Dave Ball with no chance diving to his left. Within a minute Charlie and Gethin Phillips linked well, but Gethin’s goal bound effort from just outside the area was deflected for a corner. The resulting corner was delivered nicely into the 6 yard area but United’s defensive duo, Gethin Phillips and Eifion Williams got into each other’s way. It was at this point that Dan Pyrs commented that he hadn’t seen United win this season, and it was he who brought bad luck to the team – he might have a point, I don’t think he’s seen Porthmadog win either has he?!
Pwllheli doubled their lead on 32 minutes when they caught United’s defence napping, which allowed Aaron Hughes to tap in from six yards following a corner. From the resumption, Carl Griffiths advanced down the left flank, checked his run and from 25 yards his strike went a couple of yards wide. Mathew and Carl then linked well with a nice one-two which saw Carl cross from the left by-line which went very close to the top far corner. Carl Wayne Jones struck Aikman’s right side upright following a slight deflection from 20 yards after 37 minutes and Pwllheli’s Aaron Hughes got close to extending Pwllheli’s half-time lead in the 39 th minute but his but his header in the six yard box from a fine left side cross went a yard over Dave Ball’s crossbar, H-T and 0-2.
Pwllheli started the second half brightly and had struck the side netting of United’s goal within three minutes. Charlie was felled in the penalty area after 11 minutes of the resumption, but the referee saw Pwllheli’s defence take the ball not his feet! Aled Owen made a fine challenge at the edge of the penalty area in the 57 th minute to deny Pwllheli a goal scoring opportunity, but United’s defence were on more than one occasion caught ball watching and allowing Pwllheli to penetrate the penalty area. Aled brought down Aaron Hughes in the 61 st minute some 25 yards out, and although the free-kick found it’s way around the wall, Eifion Williams was on hand to block and clear the danger.
Charlie, Carl Griffiths and Rhys Roberts worked the ball up field in the 63 rd minute, and although Charlie was fouled, the Ref played advantage, which saw Rhys cross into Gareth Eifion Jones on the six yard line, but he miss controlled and Aikman easily claimed. Pwllheli came straight back at United, and were awarded a free-kick just beyond the half-way line which was floated into the area and was met by a free Pwllheli head and knocked back across the goal-line but thankfully for United no-one was there to take advantage. The 64 th minute saw Gethin Phillips replaced following an injury obtained in the first half, which was bad news for United as it will stretch United’s defensive options to the limit. United at this point were looking desperate and running around like headless chickens, Dave Ball was forced to pull off a fine save in the 65 th minute when Arron Hughes latched on to right side cross from 6 yards out.
With only 15 minutes Pwllheli’s right-back sliced through United’s midfield and defence and found himself in the penalty area, but his final shot went 5 yards or so over the bar. Eifion Williams made a rare mistake in the 80 th minute, when he lost the ball cheaply in Pwllheli’s half, the ball came straight back into United’s area from Pwllheli’s left flank, struck Aled Owen and fell to Aaron Hughes, but Dave Ball once again saved the day. Dave immediately released Carl Griffiths up the right wing, who’s fine cross to Gareth Eifion on the edge of the area was diverted goal wards by Gareth but went a couple of yards over. Mathew Phillips came agonisingly close in the 82 nd minute, a free-kick taken quickly by Charlie following Gareth Eifion being fouled some 35 yards out, found Mathew on the edge of the area, but his strike went a couple of feet wide of the left upright.
The final ten minutes and United seemed to get their act together, with Mathew playing wide on the left and Carl Griffiths on the right with Gareth Eifion down the centre things looked much better and United upped the ante, Mathew was delivering fine crosses from the left by-line one of which went to Carl Griffiths and in turn to Charlie, who from a very acute angle on the right struck the top right hand corner of the post and out for Pwllheli to break and their effort from 30 yards was easy for Dave Ball.
Aled Owen came off with only one minute of normal time remaining and the introduction of Martin Bohana was immediate, Carl Griffiths and Mathew Phillips linked well and the fine cross from the right corner was headed goal bound by Bohana, but Aikman blocked but came straight back to Bo and with his second chance he drove low to the bottom left corner. United were finally getting their act together, and had a few minutes more of injury time been allowed United could well have forced the game into extra time, but with only THREE of United’s squad training in the week, extra time would have been a problem!
A below par performance by United, and although defeats don’t come easily, it quite possibly came in the right competition. Next up are last season’s Cymru Alliance team Llandyrnog Utd at Eithin Duon in the first round of the Cookson Cup, let’s hope for a speedy recovery for Iwan Price who was greatly missed and the Gethin’s injury dose not rule him out. Andy was also missed on Saturday, so let’s hope there’s no washing cars next Saturday!
LLANRUG UTD: Dave Ball, Gethin Phillips (Colin Ball – 64 mins), Chris Joyce, Aled Owen (Martin Bohana – 89 mins), Eifion Williams (Capt.), Carl Wayne Jones, David Noel Williams, Gareth Eifion Jones, Mathew Phillips, Rhys Roberts (Gavin Rogerson – 72 mins).
SUBS (Not Used):
Man of the Match: Carl Griffiths
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2009/2010