Tigers in the hunt for double against Glan
AFTER edging a 4-3 victory in their Gwynedd League clash at Glantraeth last weekend, Menai Bridge Tigers will target a double when they face the same opponents at home this Saturday in the Bob Owen Memorial Shield.
The unbeaten Tigers’ narrow success at Cae Glantraeth last Saturday ensured they maintained a four-point lead at the summit following a ninth win in 10 starts.
This was to be a spice-laden affair, with both teams featuring a number of players coming up against their old club.
Menai took a seventh-minute lead when Sion Hogan was brought down in the area and Dean Redmond put away the resultant penalty.
In the 14th minute, it was a case of deja vu as an identical scenario to the first penalty led to a second, which Redmond again converted.
Glan got themselves back into the game on 17 minutes when Andy Clarke took his chance well to halve the deficit.
In the 29th minute, some lovely quick passing between the Bridge midfield put Hogan through on goal and, as he rounded the keeper, his ankles were clipped and, for the third time in the match, referee Iwan Pritchard had no option but to point to the spot.
Redmond stepped up to smash the ball into the top corner for his hat-trick.
Shaun Lock and Hogan had chances to extend the away lead but some great work from the Glan keeper kept the score down.
As the final seconds of the half ticked away, a speculative shot by Iwan Kirkham deceived Dave Clarke and made it 3-2 at the break.
Both teams knew that the next goal would be crucial and, on 50 minutes, a pinpoint cross from the left with his right foot by Lock was met by Callum Graves, who calmly side-footed a volley into the back of the net for 4-2.
Both teams were working hard to win the ball and a few yellows were brandished in the second half, more due to commitment than cynical fouling.
Kelvin Frazer replaced Callum Davidson for the visitors before the hour, after which Redmond and Kev Roberts had shots just miss the target or blocked.
Glantraeth were not finished and, on 70 minutes, Bryn Roberts scored from the edge of the box.
Clarke made a point-blank save to keep it at 4-3 and Ben Roberts cleared one off the Glan line when it looked like Menai had grabbed a fifth. Pic: ALED JONES
As the referee blew the final whistle both teams knew they had been in a battle and the second instalment this Saturday promises to be one to savour.