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Huwsi's view......
Woodwork denies onslaught as United beat lowly Vale….
A goal in each half was enough for United on Saturday, however it could so easily have been nine or ten was it not for the woodwork! A total of seven efforts hit the goal frame with the most frustrated being Gareth Eifion Jones – it just wasn’t his day, but everyone could see that he just wasn’t himself, as he made dashing runs forward on more than one occasion – what was that all about!?
Still absent from the squad and nursing an injury was Mathew Phillips, and David Noel Williams was also unavoidably absent, as his newly born son was poorly in hospital but thankfully making progress. Back into the squad came Iwan Price, and Marvin Pritchard started instead of Charlie.
Within seconds, United’s man of the match Eifion Williams set the pace, he was determined to get on the score sheet, but alas it was not to be, he went five yards wide of the mark with an effort from 35 yards out. United should have been awarded a penalty in the second minute when Rhys Roberts was brought down in the area when he was advancing on goal thanks to a great through ball by Chris Joyce, but Amlwch based Heinz Broering saw nothing wrong with the challenge!
Vale had a couple of efforts in the first ten minutes but nothing to bother Dave Ball who had cleaned his gloves after arriving home from Gresford last week. A 25 yard effort went over the bar and a shot ‘hosan’ of a back pass by Eifion Williams to Chris Joyce let in Vale’s number 9, but his final shot was tame and proved an easy pick-up for Dave Ball.
The 12 th minute saw one of the moves of the match for United, started by Dave Ball to Eifion, a nice one-two with Chris Joyce and advancing well another one-two with Carl Griffiths down the left flank, Eifion advanced into the area and had a great chance to shoot, but being on his weaker right foot, he found Carl Wayne Jones some 10 yards out, but his thunderous goal bound effort was blocked by the keeper for a corner. A few minutes later and Vale had a good move, started from a throw in their own half they advanced well, but the final effort from 25 yards or so went 15 yards wide.
United broke the deadlock on 18 minutes, some fine work down the left flank by Carl Griffiths, showing some nice skill he skipped passed defenders and switched to Andy on the right flank, who in turn delivered a fine cross into the six yard box and Carl Griffiths finished off the move he started with a low effort to the bottom right corner. Within seconds of the restart Rooney went a yard over the bar from 10 yards out and Gareth Eifion struck the left upright when he advanced from 35 yards out before shooting from the edge of the area.
It was in the 22 nd minute that we knew that Dave Ball had cleaned his gloves properly, he pulled off a fine save from Vale’s number 9, fully stretched to his right he held on to the ball with both hands. Ball’s release saw Eifion once again advance up field and into Vale’s area (he was there more often than in his own!), he was like a man possessed advancing to the by-line but his cross / effort went straight at the keeper. United were advancing well and getting crosses into the area but the second goal just wouldn’t come, the custodian denied Rooney with a fine save to his right from 30 yards out just after half an hour, and he denied Gareth Eifion five minutes later when a free-kick 30 yards out was taken quickly, Carl Griffiths cross into the area was then cleared but only to Gareth Eifion who advances to the left side of the six yard box, but the angle was too acute and so the keeper saved.
The final seven minutes of the half saw some pressure from Vale but to be honest they were never going to score, a couple of free-kicks one given away cheaply by Chris Joyce some 25 yards out went straight into the wall, and Vales first corner of the half came in the 39 th minute, delivered long from the right it was deflected for another corner on the left, Ball went to claim but missed but any danger was soon cleared up-field. Marvin had some choice words for the referee in the 42 nd minute which earned him a booking and Vale a free kick but being 40 yards out it came to nothing, half time and United just had a solitary goal to show for all the efforts.
Vale started the second half stronger, they had a corner and Dave Ball had some sort of a save to make, but they never really troubled Dave. After five minutes Carl Griffiths had a shot from 18yards saved, it fell to Andy for a half chance, but again denied the ball fell back to Carl for a second shot but it just wouldn’t go in. Within minutes Vale’s right back tried an effort from 35 yards out but it didn’t trouble Dave Ball too much. Ten minutes in and United struck the woodwork once again, Gethin Phillips long ball was headed forward to Andy to the right side corner flag, Andy advanced into the area but his effort struck the bar. Chris Joyce had a similar cross to the one he had last week in the 55 th minute, but this time it came to nothing and this one stayed in play(!) prior to being cleared for a right sided corner, from which Gethin Phillips went over the bar with a free header.
The 68 th minute saw Marvin strike the woodwork, a Gareth Eifion effort from the left side was cleared by Vale’s defence, but only to Marvin who chested down and struck a nice half volley, but struck the inside of the left post and out. The 72 nd minute proved that it just wasn’t going to be Gareth Eifion’s day, Gethin Phillips throw to Rooney was retuned to Gethin down the right flank and he delivered a fine cross towards the far post, with Gareth Eifion free, he headed down, but the bounce just before the keeper went inches over the bar.
The 73 rd minute saw some nice defensive work by United clearing a Vale corner and on the break Marvin delivered a fine ball to Andy down the right flank, who delivered a fine cross to Gareth Eifion in Vale’s area, but his strike struck the underside of the bar and once again came out – Gareth must work on that spin! But seconds later Ceirion Williams delivered a fine ball to Andy on the right, and he ran into the area and with a cool head and fine finishing he struck over the advancing keeper to double United’s lead. A minute later and the woodwork was once again called into action, Rooney rounded a defender and advanced into the area, but his deflected effort was denied by the frame.
Ten minutes later and we saw the run of the match, Andy tried to released Martin Bohana (who had just come on for Rhys Roberts) through on goal, but he was returning from an offside position, but Gareth Eifion came from nowhere and rounded the keeper but the defender cleared the danger. No doubt Gareth was knackered on Saturday night, we’ve never seen him run so much!! The 90 th minute came and United struck the bar through Gareth Eifion and the inside of the post through Gavin Rogerson, typical of United’s luck on the day, but the three points were in the bag!
A tough few weeks ahead for United, next up Holywell Town visit Eithin Duon, and although United have beaten them 5 – 0 on the opening day of the season in the Welsh Cup, they are currently lying second in the league and have had some impressive results of late. Then a trip to league leaders Rhydymwyn the following Saturday before the Welsh Cup tie at Premier League Bala Town on the 31 st of October. United will have to make the efforts count if they are to gain anything over the coming three weeks.
LLANRUG UNITED: Dave Ball, Gethin Phillips, Chris Joyce, Ceirion Williams (Iwan Price – 82 mins), Eifion Williams, Carl Wayne Jones, Andrew Williams, Carl Griffiths, Marvin Pritchard (Gavin Rogerson – 73 mins), Gareth Eifion Jones, Rhys Roberts (Martin Bohana – 82 mins).
SUBS (Not used): Aled Owen
Man of the match: Eifion Williams.
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2009/2010 