Hotspur look to end poor season on high
HOLYHE AD Hotspur will aim to end a disappointing season on a high when they round off their Huws Gray Alliance League fixtures this Saturday with a home test against Caersws (2.30pm). Campbell Harrison’s men have lost eight league games on the bounce and last weekend their final hope of silverware this term went west when going down 3-0 to visitors Flint Town United in the Huws Gray Cup semi-finals. Following their excellent 2-0 quarter-final success at Porthmadog in midweek, Hotspur failed to maintain that spark against a strong Flint side who were two goals to the good in the first half via Alieu Sheriff on five minutes and Andy Brown after 24.
The Silkmen, who meet Gresford Athletic in the final at Ruthin on May 5, were not put under enough pressure at the back where their height and physicality proved too much.
After soaking up most of what Hotspur offered, Flint sub Morgan Jones grabbed a third in added time.
A red card to home defender Dan McGinness late on hardly helped Hotspur’s mood, the hosts having been at odds with the referee several times during the match for some dubious decisions.
Flint took an early lead when a sharp raid saw a shot blocked but Sheriff needed no second chance by firing into the bot- tom corner. At the other end a fine free kick on the left by Kenleigh Owen into the goalmouth only needed a touch at the far post to score but the ball evaded everyone.
Hotspur continued to press, a corner on the left by Mel McGinness eventually knocked back to Owen whose screamer was barely inches over the bar.
At this point Hotspur were getting on top, but then the always dangerous visitors nabbed a second goal.
A free kick on the right touchline by Jack Stewart evaded two Hotspur defenders and Andy Brown glanced the ball past a helpless Paul Pritchard.
Holyhead pushed forward in the second half while Flint always looked lively on the counter and twice Pritchard had to be alert.
The Hotspur players were putting a lot of effort in but found no way past a towering away defence.
Flint still threatened increase their lead.
They did just that in added time when Jones forced the ball home despite Owen’s efforts to keep it out.
Hotspur booked a home semi-final date with Flint thanks to a 2-0 win at Porthmadog last Wednesday.
Five minutes into the second half the visitors took the lead.
Following a huge scramble in the home penalty area, Mike Kelly’s low shot was adjudged to have crossed the line.
On the hour Holyhead’s pacy John Littlemore missed a great opportunity.
But soon after he made no mistake, beating keeper Richard Harvey from 15 yards for his 12th goal of the season. to