Bucks’ fizz goes flat after double from magic Mel
HOLYHEAD Hotspur will aim to complete a nap hand of straight victories this Saturday when they welcome Huws Gray Alliance bottom side Ruthin Town to the New Stadium (2pm).
Campbell Harrison’s men made it four successes on the bounce last weekend when they saw off Buckley Town 2-1 to reach the Huws Gray Cup semi-finals.
It needed an added time decider from the very much in-form Mel McGinness to clinch a hard-fought tie for the Holy Islanders.
As was the case the previous midweek in a 3-2 triumph at Conwy Borough, McGinness was the Harbourmen’s last-gasp hero.
Hotspur will next face Porthmadog at home in the semi-finals on a date to be arranged.
Last weekend’s clash with Bucks was a dour encounter with a lack of goalscoring chances, but nonetheless it proved highly competitive.
The visitors made the better start, Mike Cronshaw hitting the outside of the post before the lively Jacob Evans fired straight at keeper Paul Pritchard.
While Town applied plenty of pressure they were unable to make it count and as the half wore on Holyhead began to make more of a mark on proceedings.
However, come the interval the scoresheet remained blank.
Holyhead looked livelier at the start of the second half, McGinness firing just wide following a good ball from Gavin Sharpe.
Bucks remained dangerous, though, Alex Jones being forced into a cracking tackle to thwart Asa Hamilton before Pritchard produced a fine stop from Cronshaw.
Corey Jones then saw a header cleared off the line before the hosts pinched a 70th-minute lead.
Dean Garmey retrieved a ball on the left near the far post and drilled across the area where McGinness applied a trademark deadly finish.
Despite a poor run of form which has seen them lose their previous six outings, including a 6-1 home hammering at the hands of Prestatyn, Buckley were given it their all at Holyhead and pulled level in the 84th minute.
There was more than an element of fortune about the goal, Hamilton’s strike deflecting in off Cron- shaw, who had a brief spell at Hotspur in 2012/13.
However, just when it looked as if extra time was looming, Sharpe’s ball released McGinness, who outstripped the chasing pack to apply a searing finish.
It was a 15th goal of the season for the long-serving pocket dynamo.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday of last week, two goals from Dean Garmey, his second a spectacular strike from distance and a 90thminute winner of rare quality via McGinness sealed Hotspur a 3-2 result at Conwy Borough.
Holyhead took the lead on 21 minutes when McGinness’ corner was headed goalwards by Alex Jones and Garmey guided the ball home.
Boro levelled after 37 when Neil Harvey’s header was cleared off the line by Garmey but Joe Chaplin was following up to score.
In the 81st minute, Garmey’s 25-yarder flew in to restore the away advantage.
Conwy capitalised on a defensive error to make it 2-2 via Harvey, but in the final minute McGinness controlled a cross, turned and volleyed home an absolutely superb winner.