Treble joy for Asa
HOLYHEAD Town are up to second in the Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd League after a hat-trick from the prolific Asa Thomas inspired a 7-2 away drubbing of Llangoed and District last Saturday.
Craig Brodie’s side made it eight wins from nine starts and are now just four points behind table-toppers Bro Goronwy with two games in hand.
This Saturday, the Holy Islanders could edge closer to the Moelfre men when they host bottom side Llanllyfni, who have lost all 11 of their matches to date.
In the only game in the Gwynedd League to not fall foul of the weather last Saturday, it was Holyhead who took full advantage of their rivals’ postponements with a comprehensive victory over Llangoed. It was the Harbourmen’s seventh league triumph on the bounce in which they have amassed 36 goals.
The two promoted sides played good flowing football at times in what truly were awful conditions. It was the Harbourmen who struck first through the returning Tom Hadley.
Having chased a hopeful ball down the left channel, Hadley spotted keeper Rhys Owen slightly out of position and beat him from a tight angle. The lead, however, was short-lived as Llangoed drew level through Matty Owen after great play by Tom Verburg. With both sides continuing to battle it was Thomas who grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, firstly beating two men before slotting the ball calmly home, then moments later grabbing his second and Town’s third with a deflected free kick.
Next it was Jordie Murphy’s turn to get on the scoresheet. Latching on to man-of-the-match Luke Roberts’s cross, Murphy beat Owen to notch up his 12th goal of the campaign in his 10th start.
The second half began in the same vein, top goalscorer Thomas completing his hat-trick with a 16th goal of the season, Hadley turning provider on this occasion.
Just as Town were threatening to run riot, Llangoed grabbed their second of the game. Matty Owen found David Thomas who fired home, leaving keeper Mike Bentley well beaten.
Hopes of a dramatic comeback were scuppered as Hadley grabbed his second with a well executed curling effort and the goal of the game was saved until last.
Ian Williams skipped past two oncoming challenges before unleashing a thunderbolt from 35 yards into the top corner of Owen’s net. Holyhead’s magnificent seven Llangoed (a) 7-2 (Thomas 3, Hadley 2, J Murphy, Williams)
Llangoed (h) 6-2 ( J Murphy 2, Williams 2, Thomas, Hadley)
Bontnewydd (h) 4-3 (Thomas 2, D Murphy, Williams)
Llanllyfni (a) 6-0 ( J Murphy 3, Thomas, B Lavelle, Roberts)
Nefyn United (h) 2-1 (Williams, Roberts)
Beaumaris Town (h) 6-2 (A Thomas 2, J Murphy 2, M Thomas, Williams)
Waunfawr (a) 5-2 ( J Murphy 2, Hadley, M Davies, 1 own goal) Other scores
Conwy Borough (FAW Trophy) 3-4 (Thomas 2, J Murphy) Bro Goronwy (h) 2-4 (Dewitt 2) Gaerwen (Welsh Cup) 3-4 (Thomas 2, Roberts)
Gwalchmai (h) 8-2 (A Thomas 3, Roberts 3, Williams, B Lavelle)
Menai Bridge ( FAW Trophy) 2-1 (B Lavelle, J Murphy)
Goals (54): 16 - Asa Thomas; 12 - Jordie Murphy; 7 - Ian Williams; 6 - Tom Roberts; 4 - Tom Hadley; 3 - Barrie Lavelle; 2 - Chris Dewitt; 1 - Dale Murphy, Mike Davies, Matthew Thomas, one own goal.