Five-star Legion kick off 2015 in some style
FIVE-STAR Conwy Legion United marked their first match of 2015 with three points as they saw off Machno United 5-2 at The Oval last Saturday.
The win keeps Martyn Jones’s 12-match unbeaten side top of the Vale of Clwyd and Conwy Premier Division.
Conwy started brightly with Jones opting for an attacking looking 3-4-3 formation.
Chris Quinn opened the scoring on 20 minutes with a neat finish across the Machno goal.
Quinn’s strike partner Matt Cassidy was on target next. The up front pair linked well and Cassidy finished similarly to how Quinn did.
Machno created some chances of their own, but the back three of Olly Walters, Steve Bibby and Josh PierceJones stood firm and quickly cleared any danger.
Ian Pattinson spotted a run from Cassidy, who drilled the ball across the Machno goal only for Jon Seymour to turn it into his own net and Legion looked to go in at the break 3-0 up. However, Machno had other ideas. The ball was cleared long upfield resulting in a Machno corner right on the break. A dangerous ball in from Kevin Owen was met by Legion’s Walters, whose headed clearance found the back of his own net.
Machno changed formation in the second period, pushing three men up front.
This left them more open at the back and Legion’s Ross HowcroftJones found himself through on goal on 50 minutes only for a fine save to deny the forward.
It was game on at the hour mark when Jordan Naylor lost possession in a dangerous position to Jamie Williams, who struck a sweet shot into the bottom corner reducing the Conwy lead to just one.
However, Walters made up for his first-half own goal by scoring directly from a corner on 68 minutes to give Legion a little more breathing space.
Machno refused to lie down but the game as put beyond them on 88 minutes with Quinn sliding in for his second of the afternoon.
Winning boss Jones said: “It’s been a frustrating few weeks for us with games being called off due to the weather.
“The lads were desperate to get out there today and put a couple of disappointing results before Christmas well and truly behind them and I think they did that.
“It was a new formation that they adapted to well and I think we were value for the points throughout the game.”