Celts pay penalty for missed chances
TALYSARN Celts will feel somewhat aggrieved that they ended up with nothing from last Saturday’s opening day Gwynedd League clash at home to Bro Goronwy.
Last season’s runners-up Bro won the match 3-0, but Celts were left to rue a number of missed opportunities
In a game where the visitors never managed to move out of the lower gears, they still found themselves a couple of goals to the good at the interval, even though the hosts had created the better chances.
After only five minutes, Talysarn were given the opportunity of a dream start to the season, Bro defender Gareth Jones at fault in upending his marker in the penalty box.
Jac Jones stepped up for the penalty, but met his match in glovesman Gareth Owen, the stopper diving low to his right to magnificently push the ball away to safety.
The Celts looked much the brighter, Matthew Roberts stinging the crossbar with his effort and then the hosts went so close again, this time inches wide of the post after Owen spilled the ball.
Quick thinking put Bro in the lead after 36 minutes, captain Dylan Jones on his toes to sneak the ball into the net while the home defence were still building their protective wall.
Gareth Prebble went close at the other end of the pitch, this time shaving the post with his strike and, before Talysarn knew it, they were going into the break 2-0 down.
Rob Tiesteel’s accurate lofted set piece caused all the trouble, Liam Griffiths alive to pounce and send the drop down past Daniel Tindall.
It was more of the same in the second period, Celts ruing a missed chance to pull themselves back into the match with Bro punishing their lack of finishing to seal the points with a late strike.
Rhys Jones had his head in his hands only minutes after the restart.
A ball to the far post picked out the striker where it looked certain he would nod into the net, but, unfortunately, he managed to head over the bar from near enough under it.
Dan Fairhead’s run set up Andy Williams’ dribble, only to be denied from Tindall at the death before Bro were reduced to 10 men, Dylan Jones picking up his second yellow card giving Talysarn hope in the 20 minutes remaining.
All that hope was dashed on 81 minutes, Jac Thomas chasing a lost cause out wide, reaching the ball first, to round the keeper and find the back of the net from a tight angle.