Football: Ysceifiog remain top of the Summer League

Jun 3 2008 By Dave Jones

YSCEIFIOG needed an 87th minute winner against battling Llandyrnog to maintain their four-point lead at the Summer League summit on Monday night.

Llanrhaeadr now look like the Y men’s likeliest challengers after disposing of fellow high flyers Llanfair in ruthless fashion.

YSCEIFIOG 2 LLANDYRNOG 1

SOMETIMES you have to win ugly to lift league titles and Ysceifiog proved they were capable of that as they took another step towards a first ever championship by edging past Llandyrnog.

Simon Holloway put the leaders in front, but plucky Dyrny levelled through Sean Roberts and despite being down to 10 men having used all their substitutes and having a makeshift goalkeeper between the posts, it appeared the visitors might hold on for a commendable point until Sion Evans notched the decider three minutes from time.

LLANRHAEADR 4 LLANFAIR 1

DESPITE being without suspended influential duo Miles Todd and Sion Davies, Llanrhaeadr pulled off one of their best results of the season.

Llion Edwards and Chris Williams provided the hosts with a 2-0 lead, but Simon McGrath responded for the visitors on the hour and only some fine saves by keeper Luke Vanderbijl and the crossbar denied Llanfair parity.

The last 10 minutes saw Arfon Griffiths’ men regain control as Gareth Roberts and Chris Williams’ 10th goal of the season saw them safely to victory.

LLANGYNHAFAL 1 CAERWYS 1

DEPLETED Caerwys delighted manager Richie Roberts by earning a share of the spoils at Llangynhafal.

"Considering I had seven regulars out and two lads were playing their first ever Summer League game I’ve got to be pleased with a draw there," said Roberts.

Tom Smith put the visitors in front on the hour when he latched on to a long kick from keeper Gareth Williams and finished well, but Hafal, who dominated possession for the most part, replied with a Tom Sharples penalty.

HENLLAN 2 NANTGLYN 3

HAT-TRICK hero Osian Jones turned the tables for a Nantglyn side which trailed 2-0 after 15 minutes to a pair of Kevin Davies goals.

Jones made it 2-1 before half time, but after the break Henllan looked unfortunate not to win a penalty which could have clinched the game.

Nant took advantage by levelling matters and Jones completed his trio before the end.

CLAWDD NEWYDD 1 RHEWL 3

TEENAGER Ian Williams bagged the second half double which brought Rhewl a notable triumph at the home of the champions.

Chris Campbell latched on to a goalkeeping error to make it 1-0 to Elfed Lloyd’s side, but Clawdd’s leading marksman Llion Jones squared it before the turnaround.

In the second period Rhewl played some nice football and Williams restored their advantage with a corking strike before adding another from close range.

TREFNANT 1 CEFN 2

JAKE Walker, the 15-year-old who cannot stop scoring, was on the mark again with his fifth goal of the season as Cefn came from behind to see off Trefnant.

Steffan Thomas netted first for Trefi, but Adam Jones levelled with a cross- cum-shot and Walker plundered the winner before half time arrived.

THURSDAY, MAY 29

CLAWDD NEWYDD 4 LLANRHAEADR 7

A STUNNING game at Cae Cymro saw Llanrhaeadr’s greater staying power carry them to victory.

Gareth Roberts, Chris Williams (2, 1 pen), Alun Evans, an Endaf Jones own goal, Sion Davies and Alun Williams, with a 30-yarder, provided the visiting haul while David Millington (2), Jordan McCarter and Owain Jones kept Clawdd in the contest.

YSCEIFIOG 3 LLANGYNHAFAL 1

THIS was a big test for the Y men and they passed it with flying colours.

Two goals from league top marksman David Holloway – now 18 for the season – including a 40-yard free-kick and Tom Carney were enough to deliver a home win, Mike Sharples (pen) replying.

TREFNANT 4 HENLLAN 0

DANNY Porter, Lee Ferguson, Simon "Pud" Jones and Chris Hughes hit the net for Trefnant who completed the double over Henllan and scooped their first victory since the opening night of the season.

CAERWYS 1 LLANDYRNOG 1

ALTHOUGH Dyfan Davies put Caerwys ahead from a Richie Roberts corner, Llandyrnog sealed a point thanks to Idris Parry’s fifth goal of the summer.

RHEWL 0 LLANFAIR 1

MELVILLE Evans pinched three points for Llanfair with a stunning 25- yard rocket late in the game, but Rhewl should have picked up something for their endeavours.

Dyfan Lloyd hit the bar for the hosts, Richard Thomas miskicked at the vital moment and Ian Williams had two efforts blocked on the goal-line.

NANTGLYN 3 CEFN 3

THREE times Nantglyn trailed and on each occasion they came back in this even contest.

Dewi Jones, Dilwyn Roberts (pen) and Jake Walker were the Cefn netfinders, but Rhys Edwards, Osian Jones and Geraint Jones ensured a split verdict.