Football: Ysceifiog claim the Summer League crown

Jun 25 2008 By Dave Jones

LAST year they had the aperitif but on Monday night they devoured the main course – congratulations to Ysceifiog the 2008 Llandyrnog and District Summer League champions.

The Y Men joined the league in 1976 but it was not until last year that they won their first major trophy – the North Wales Times Shield.

However, 12 months on this young side has just got better and better and with three matches to spare they secured the big one in some style at Cefn on Monday with a 10th straight victory.

The 5-1 triumph saw once again Golden Boot holder David Holloway in scintillating form as he notched a hat-trick to put him on 32 goals for the summer.

Yet just eight years ago Ysceifiog’s future was in doubt as a player shortage forced them to withdraw from the 2000 competition.

They re-emerged in 2002 and have been improving steadily since under the managership of Pete Jones and Geraint Bellingham.

There was no prouder man on Monday night than Ysceifiog’s long-serving chairman Tony Evans.

"This is no more than these lads deserve – they’ve worked hard all season," said Evans. "And a lot of credit has to go to the managers for sticking with a policy of fielding youngsters.

"Eight years ago we withdrew from the league because we had to, but that proved to be a turning point.

"We’ve persevered with the youngsters and there’s a bit more meat on them now which has enabled them to fend off the bigger boys.

"To win a cup is fantastic, but to win the league is the ultimate achievement."

Proving that the Summer League is indeed a competition of swings and roundabouts, Ysceifiog become the third successive first-time champions, following in the footsteps of Clawdd Newydd (2007) and Nantglyn (2005 and 2006).

CEFN 1 YSCEIFIOG 5

NOT even in-form Cefn could halt Ysceifiog’s inevitable march to the title.

David Holloway grabbed his sixth hat- trick of the season and third in a row, Simon Holloway and Alex Hodge were also on the mark, while Dewi Jones responded for the hosts.

LLANRHAEADR 2 NANTGLYN 1

A DECIDING goal two minutes from time by Alun Evans gave Llanrhaeadr a great chance of taking runners-up spot.

Gareth Roberts edged Llan 1-0 up at the break, but Rhodri Evans equalised 10 minutes from the end before the hosts stole the honours late on.

RHEWL 0 LLANDYRNOG 1

MIKE Evans’ late goal clinched the points for a Llandyrnog side which deserved the win for showing more passion than their opponents.

HENLLAN 0 LLANGYNHAFAL 3

GARMON Hafal netted twice for the visitors but the goal of the game was a 40- yard spectacular from Sam Crompton.

LLANFAIR 3 CAERWYS 3

IN a close-fought encounter the spoils were shared, Wayne Shill, Dyfan Davies and Dylan Thomas for the visitors, Mel Evans, Simon McGrath and a spectacular own goal making sure Llanfair finished level.

TREFNANT 1 CLAWDD NEWYDD 1

UNLUCKY Trefnant were two minutes away from their 500th Summer League victory before Elystan Hughes spoiled the occasion by equalising for Clawdd.

Tom Hughes had provided the hosts with a 38th minute lead, but they were unable to hold on to it.

THURSDAY, JUNE 19

YSCEIFIOG 5 RHEWL 2

THERE was a shock on the cards when Rhewl took a 2-0 advantage through Dan McLean and Tom Bridson, but the Y men turned the tables with a David Holloway hat-trick plus further goals from Danny Jones and John Stamatiou.

HENLLAN 1 CLAWDD NEWYDD 3

THE former champions continued their upsurge in form, Jordan MacCarter, Mark Lewis and Dylan Davies finding the target at Top Park where Kevin Davies hit back for the hosts with a penalty – his ninth goal this term.

CAERWYS 3 TREFNANT 3

ALL square at Barlow’s where Wayne Shill (2) and Nicky Voyle were the Caerwys marksmen, but a Steffan Thomas hat-trick rescued a point for Trefi.

THURSDAY, JUNE 19

LLANGYNHAFAL 2 LLANFAIR 1

A CRACKING netfinder from Liam Jones plus a Tom Seddon strike were enough to deliver a Hafal win, a Tom Sharples own goal 10 minutes from the end giving Llanfair hope.

NANTGLYN 4 LLANDYRNOG 1

ALTHOUGH Dyrny forged ahead through John Jones, Nantglyn were too strong on the night with Osian Jones (2, 1 pen), Geraint Jones and Gareth Lewis turning the tables.

CEFN 5 LLANRHAEADR 2

DYNAMIC duo Owain Roberts and Dewi Jones bagged a brace apiece as Cefn turned in one of their best displays of the season and ended Llanrhaeadr’s title hopes.

Jake Walker, the 15- year-old sensation, also scored for a ninth successive game for the hosts, while Gareth Roberts and Kevin Evans had Arfon Griffiths’ side level at 2-2 at one point.

LEADING GOALSCORERS:

32 – David Holloway (Ysceifiog)

15 – Chris Williams (Llanrhaeadr)/Llion Jones (Clawdd Newydd)

14 – Dewi Jones (Cefn)

FIXTURES

Thursday, June 26 (7.30pm): Clawdd Newydd v Caerwys, Llandyrnog v Trefnant, Nantglyn v Llangynhafal, Llanrhaeadr v Ysceifiog, Llanfair v Henllan, Rhewl v Cefn.

Monday, June 30 (7.30pm): Cefn v Llanfair, Llangynhafal v Rhewl, Trefnant v Llanrhaeadr, Caerwys v Nantglyn, Ysceifiog v Clawdd Newydd, Henllan v Llandyrnog.