Hotspur face a tough test to ground Airbus

LIFE does not get any easier for Huws Gray Alliance bottom side Holyhead Hotspur as they prepare to visit an Airbus Broughton team currently flying high at the top of the league with a record of 13 straight victories this Saturday afternoon, reports Gareth Davies.

Hotspur not only suffered their ninth defeat in 13 outings last Friday, when going down 3-1 at Denbigh Town, the Holy Islanders also had goalkeeper Carl Jones and defender Dan McGinness sent off on a night to forget.

Holyhead took the lead via a spot-kick from Marc Evans just after the half-hour, but the hosts drew level near the break through substitute Sam Jones.

He had come on when Denbigh goalkeeper Craig Vernon injured himself in the penalty incident and had to be replaced by outfield defender Lewis Sirrell for the rest of the game.

Hotspur failed to take advantage of this change, the stand-in keeper put under no pressure by the visitors.

Goals from Pat Hinchcliffe and Tony Davies in the second period secured the points for the hosts.

The deadlock was broken in the 32nd minute when Denbigh full-back Dan Lloyd sold his goalkeeper short and Evans nipped in, only to be brought down.

Prolific marksman Evans picked himself up and successfully converted from 12 yards.

Six minutes later, a dangerous ball into the Hotspur goalmouth saw glovesman Jones do well to clear away from under the crossbar.

However, Sam Jones was not picked up and fired the ball low into the corner of the net for a real poacher’s goal.

The second half started at a good pace until the hosts went ahead on the hour, Hinchcliffe volleying home through a crowd of players.

Things got worse for Holyhead when goalkeeper Jones was dismissed for a needless display of indiscipline, leading to Kenleigh Owen taking over between the posts.

In added time a controversial penalty was awarded to Denbigh.

Davies’s spot-kick was seemingly saved by Owen but, on the advice of an assistant, the referee gave a goal, deciding the ball had crossed the line.

McGinness was shown a red card for contesting the official’s decision and a miserable evening for Holyhead was complete.