Treble for ace Corrig
THE remarkable Corrig McGonigle made it 14 goals in seven games as Glantraeth took over top spot in Welsh Alliance Division One with a 4-2 victory over visitors Abergele Town.
Since joining the Anglesey club from Caernarfon Town in September, the 19-year-old sensation has scored in every match he has played for Glan.
Last season’s winner of the Bob Brodie Trophy, awarded annually to the highest goal-getter in senior football on the island with a competition record 64 goals, the Llansadwrn teenager netted more than 100 times at all levels of soccer last term and was part of the Bangor City squad which won the Welsh Premier Development League.
Glantraeth produced a stunning opening 45 minutes against Abergele last Saturday, but the win had some of the gloss taken off it as 10-man Town battled back to score two late goals leading to a lively finale to a game that had looked all but over.
No matter it is Glantraeth that go top of the league with a seventh successive win and yet another hat-trick from magic McGonigle.
Glan were virtually unplayable in the first half, going ahead on 16 minutes as McGonigle rose to head home a great cross from Jamie Roberts.
Seven minutes later it was Roberts on the scoresheet as his dipping free kick left keeper Stuart Roberts rooted to the spot.
On 33 minutes Glan went three up as McGonigle was brought down in the box then converted the penalty and within a minute this scoring machine had got a third, taking advantage of a defensive blunder to cleverly dink the keeper.
The visitors began the second half better and Tom Clark brought a good save from keeper Ben Heald but their chances of getting back into the game seemed have gone approaching the hour mark as Jack Lloyd-Williams’ tackle earned him a second caution and was dismissed by referee Peter Kewley.
On 62 minutes it was almost five as Roberts met a Harry Galeotti cross but saw his shot come back off the bar and soon after it was Sam Faulkner denied by the woodwork.
Against all the odds the visitors were showing plenty of spirit and 12 minutes from time they got their reward as Heald was caught out of his goal and Clarke pulled a goal back.
If that was not enough of a shock for the home side three minutes later Abergele were awarded a penalty that Danny Abbott put away to make it 4-2.
With the game now looking more of a contest the closing minutes became quite feisty and referee Kewley did well to keep his cards in his pocket.
Llangefni Town were left hanging on for a close-fought 4-3 victory at rock-bottom Glan Conwy.
Paul Rowlands, Mathew Jones, an own goal and Anthony Hughes put Cefni 4-1 up before two late replies from Glan made the winning margin much tighter.