Football: Rhyl FC surrender top spot after frustrating draw

Oct 1 2008 by Dave Jones, Denbigh Visitor

Rhyl surrender top spot after frustrating draw

RHYL 0 ABERYSTWYTH TOWN 0

WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE

FRUSTRATION for Rhyl as they dropped two points for the second week running despite making it 18 league matches unbeaten against Aberystwyth.

Mark Connolly so nearly won this game for the 10-man Lilies in the 90th minute when his overhead kick came back off the post, but the end result meant Allan Bickerstaff’s unbeaten side were knocked off the top of the Welsh Premier on goal difference.

A late winner would have been just reward for the hosts who generally dominated despite having Neil Roberts red-carded on 53 minutes for a bad challenge on Aneurin Thomas.

Town’s impressive keeper Dave Roberts superbly tipped over a fourth minute Connolly free-kick then denied Jamie Reed from close range after a brilliant run from man of the match Craig Jones before somehow keeping out a Josh Johnson rocket.

Aber’s only serious threat of the first half came when Geoff Kellaway broke clear and was thwarted by the onrushing Lee Kendall. From the resulting Chris Venables corner, Graham Evans’ header missed by a fraction.

After striker Roberts saw red in the second half, moments later visiting manager Brian Coyne was sent to the stands by Irish exchange referee Padraig Sutton for dissent following an altercation between the two benches over the sending-off incident.

Reed and Greg Stones fluffed good opportunities before on 74 minutes George Horan volleyed home but was controversially adjudged offside.

Substitute Sion Evans went close with a header for the visitors from his first touch, then a minute from time Connolly’s free-kick missed by inches.

The game was in injury time when Carl Owen headed on Stones’ cross and Connolly’s overhead rattled the post.

Referee Sutton had a nightmare. He seemed to be incapable of spotting a handball – Rhyl had at least three decent shouts for a penalty – the most blatant one from Thomas before Roberts’ sending-off.

Aber defended well enough, but even when they had a man advantage did not show any sense of adventure, save for a couple of fast counter-attacks.

RHYL: Kendall, Connolly, Stones, Horan, Strong, G Owen, Kelly (D Williams 83), Johnson, Roberts, Reed (C Owen 67), Jones.