Hard-fought loss to Holywell for young Citizens
RELEGATED HOTSPUR EARN COMEBACK WIN AT RUTHIN
BANGOR City’s young guns capped a tough week in the Huws Gray Alliance with a hard-fought 2-1 loss away to lowly Holywell Town.
Following their 6-1 reverse to champions Airbus UK Broughton a few days before, the Citizens then slipped up against the battling Wellmen who kept alive their hopes of escaping the drop by halting a four-match losing run.
After a goalless first half of a keenly contested affair, Bangor got their noses in front three minutes into the second period through Robbie Parry’s penalty.
Keeper Nathan Wolland pulled off some timely saves for City, including denying a first-half spot kick from Sam Jones to keep the visitors in the hunt.
But Holywell also showed their mettle as they rallied to claim a vital win courtesy of Mark Winslade’s cross-shot on 55 minutes and Damian Ketley’s 75th minute winner.
They may be down, but Holyhead Hotspur showed plenty of fight to overturn a 2-1 deficit in their 4-2 victory away to Ruthin Town.
Tomos Clarke gave the Anglesey visitors the lead, but Ruthin had their noses in front at the break through Ilan Hughes and Ryan Jones.
Hotspur, however, were in no mood to surrender as Clarke scored twice more to complete his hattrick, either side of a goal from Mel McGuinness.
Porthmadog moved up to runners-up spot after two second-half goals earned a 2-0 victory over a battling Llanrhaeadr at the Traeth.
Llan could have been ahead in a goalless first period when Kyham Wyton saw his penalty well saved by keeper Paul Pritchard after Joe Vaughan had been brought down,
Jimmy Haynes pulled off a couple of good stops at the other end to keep Llan on terms, but Port had the edge in the second period against their spirited visitors.
Julian Wiliams made the breakthrough on 67 minutes when nodding
in after terrific work from Sion Edwards, and another header from Gruff John Williams settled the issue six minutes from time.
It was Port’s third win on the spin while Llan, despite the defeat, moved a step closer to safety as results elsewhere went in their favour.
Sam Molyneux bagged a hattrick – making it five goals in two games – as Rhyl consolidated fourth spot with a 5-0 hammering of struggling Denbigh Town at Belle Vue.
After a goalless first 41 minutes, the Lilywhites – fielding five players from the club’s Academy – took charge by netting four times either side of the interval.
Cai Owen made the breakthrough with a strike from distance, Molyneux then opened his account on half time before completing his treble with two more in the first 10 minutes of the second period.
Sixteen-year-old Callum Roberts rounded off a five-star show five minutes from time as Rhyl made it back-to-back wins in style to keep Denbigh flirting with relegation danger.
● Champions Airbus UK Broughton, whose promotion to the Welsh Premier has been confirmed after gaining the FAW Tier 1 Licence, received their trophy in their last game of the season with Flint Town United.
And they celebrated by dispatching one of their closest rivals 3-0 at the Hollingsworth Group Stadium to maintain their winning sequence.
After a goalless first half, Matt McGinn broke the deadlock midway through the second period before late goals from Nathan Wolfe and Joe Chaplin sealed the win as Flint’s hopes of runners-up spot faltered.
Prestatyn Town’s unbeaten run came to an end after Chris Cathrall’s 75th penalty earned Guilsfield an entertaining 3-2 victory at Clos Mytton.
The Seasiders twice clawed their way back through Danny Davies (25) and James Jones (65), both goals coming from superb Ben Maher free kicks.
The Guils had led courtesy of Jake Cook and Robbie James before Cathrall sealed the win from the spot.
Both sides finished with 10 men in an eventful second half, with Prestatyn goalscorer Davies getting his marching orders after picking up his second booking for handball that led to the decisive penalty. Adam Jenkins also saw red for the home side.
Buckley Town were held to a 1-1 draw against Penrhyncoch at the Globe in their last outing of a creditable campaign.
The hosts had led through Adam Eden’s 72nd minute strike, before Jonathan Evans earned the Roosters a precious point five minutes from time to keep alive his team’s hopes of league survival.
Gresford Athletic signed off their season on a high with a 4-2 victory over Conwy Borough at Clappers Lane.
Jake Eyre gave them a flying start, and Jordan McCarter quickly doubled the lead before Anthony Marshall pulled one back.
Jack Chaloner restored the two goal cushion at the break, McCarter then netted his second of the game early in the second period before Cory Williams pulled one back for Borough.