Bro hit back to stay in top spot
BRO Goronwy kept their spot at the summit of the Gwynedd League hitting back with a 3-1 win over bottom of the table Llanllyfni.
On paper it may have been top versus bottom in the league standings but one look at the playing surface at Llanllyfni meant it was always going to be a leveller on the day, as passing football would be very hard to string together on the lengthy uncut pitch.
The hosts outmuscled the league leaders at times but were grateful to stopper John Gould for keeping them afloat in the match with some nonstop heroics in front of the posts.
The gloves man was quickly out to deny the first of many chances for Andy Williams, then was equally quick to react to thwart Carwyn Williams’ follow up.
Gwion Thomas shot closely over the target and the hosts produced a nailbiting goalmouth scramble in a five-minute spell in which the home side looked to gain an advantage.
Bro again looked to threaten, off target at times and denied from the linesman’s flag on other attacks.
The Villagers were in raptures on 31 minutes as they dreamed of their first league win of the campaign, Simon Watkinson gauging the bounce of the ball to find a passage through Bro’s defence before finishing into the top corner of the net for 1-0.
Carwyn Williams shot was blocked in the six-yard box and Carwyn Thompson had to head clear off the line to prevent the rebound finding the net as the visitors pushed for an immediate reply.
It was feeling like a case of deja vu for Goronwy as chance after chance went begging, Williams again denied a couple of times from Llanllyfni’s man of the match goalkeeper Gould before Rui Da Silva’s free kick went close.
Perfect timing just before the interval had Bro breathing more easily, Williams again watching his shot saved only for Connor Jones to pounce and finish. From a position with plenty still to do, he hit a low shot into the corner of the net to make it 1-1.
After levelling close to the break Bro were ahead not long after, Taylor Jones flicking through for his strike partner to compose himself and strike low past Gould.
Now in the lead Bro were unlucky not to romp away with the win, Connor Jones stopped by a fingertip save, Jordan Edney’s free kick smashing back off the post and Williams placing a volley back off the crossbar.
Taylor Jones went close with a sliding shot inches wide before, after a flowing move, Owain Griffiths’ floated cross was met with Jones’ header that once again came back off the bar.
The Gwynedd league leaders wrapped it up on 76 minutes when Williams found Taylor Jones who finished confidently wide of the stopper.