Football: Dream start for Ruthin Town FC at Llandudno

Aug 20 2008 By Dave Jones

LLANDUDNO 1 RUTHIN TOWN 2

CYMRU ALLIANCE LEAGUE

TEN-MAN Ruthin made a dream start to the season with a hard-fought victory over one of the favourites for the Cymru Alliance title.

Adie Jones maintained his fine record as a manager at Maesdu Park with goals from Mike Garrod and substitute Kevin Breeze securing the Vale side three points.

"Llandudno are one of the favourites for the title along with Bala and Holyhead so it was great to start with a win there," said Jones.

"It wasn’t the best of games; the wind was horrendous, but considering we played with 10 men from the 48th minute it was a brilliant result. Sometimes the wins where you don’t play particularly well are the best wins."

Ruthin had the best possible start when on seven minutes Gary Ellison and Simon Hulse combined well to release Garrod whose first effort was brilliantly saved by Tudno keeper Sean Pearson, but the former Upton Athletic man put away the rebound.

The rest of the half was a wind-dominated midfield battle with the Ruthin goal rarely troubled until just before the break Joe Morgan headed in a superb equaliser.

When Garrod was dismissed for a second yellow card offence three minutes into the second half the writing looked on the wall for Town, but to their credit they took the game to the hosts.

"We stayed with three in midfield and two up front and it worked for us," added Jones.

An inspired double substitution from the Ruthin chief saw Breeze and Liam Jones take to the field on 74 minutes.

Within a minute Jones played the ball into the box and Breeze, a past Cymru Alliance title winner with Buckley, fired in the decider with his first touch.

How ironic that on an afternoon of such strong winds a player called Breeze grabbed the headlines!

"I think there’s going to be five or six going for the title this season and if by Christmas we can be up there I’d like to think we can be among them," added Adie Jones.

Ruthin were due to visit Guilsfield last night (Tuesday) then on Friday host neighbours Llandyrnog United in the first Vale of Clwyd derby of the season.

Keeper Simon Williams is due back from suspension for the Dyrny game, enabling Matt Parry to return to Colwyn Bay.

"We only had Matt on a two-game loan deal and I’d like to thank Colwyn Bay for helping us out," said former Bay boss Jones.

As for the Llandyrnog test, Jones added: "It will be my first Vale of Clwyd derby and I believe they can be feisty affairs so I’m really looking forward to it."