Lilies top of the table and looking good

Jan 7 2009 by Dave Jones, Denbigh Visitor

IT was a year of big changes at Rhyl Football Club but 2008 ended on a high note with the Lilywhites top of the Welsh Premier League.

Here is a look back at the last 12 months:

JANUARY

Rhyl’s record Welsh Premier marksman Andy Moran left to join Fleetwood Town with 99 league goals for the Lilywhites on his slate. Moran’s long-serving strike partner Lee Hunt also put in a transfer request, but WPL all-time top scorer Marc Lloyd Williams signed for the Lilies while utility player Greg Stones rejoined the club.

FEBRUARY

Hunt agreed to stay till the end of the season and John Hulse was named Manager of the Month for January after picking up 10 points out of 12. Rhyl also reached the League Cup final with a 3-1 aggregate win over Bangor in the semis.

MARCH

Rhyl qualified for Europe for a fifth successive season after a 1-0 victory over Porthmadog secured a place in the Inter-Toto Cup. The Lilywhites beat Gap Queens Park 3-2 in the Welsh Cup quarters but lost 5-2 to Llanelli in the last four. Dave Cameron left the club to become manager of Bradford Park Avenue.

APRIL

In the League Cup final Rhyl went down 2-0 to Llanelli. The Lilywhites drew League of Ireland side Bohemian in the Inter-Toto. John Hulse’s 200th WPL game in charge of Rhyl brought a disappointing 1-0 loss at Porthmadog. Marc Lloyd-Williams scored twice in 5-0 win over Port Talbot and 2-1 victory at Bangor.

MAY

John Hulse resigned after six seasons in charge. The Hulse era delivered seven trophies and will be remembered as one of the most successful periods in the club’s history. Lee Hunt signed for Barrow and departed Rhyl with a great record of 113 goals in 164 games. Rhyl Fans defeated Stalybridge Fans 4-1 to lift the Northern Football Supporters Challenge Cup. Rhyl’s Craig Jones scored hat-trick for Wales semi-pro team in 6-2 triumph over Gibraltar at Belle Vue.

JUNE

Allan Bickerstaff became Rhyl’s senior coach with Osian Roberts appointed head coach. Rhyl lost 9-3 on aggregate to Bohemian in Inter-Toto Cup. Later major signings included ex-Wales, Wrexham and Wigan Athletic striker Neil Roberts plus former Wrexham players Gareth Owen and Jamie Reed. Lee Kendall and George Horan re-signed, but departures included James Brewerton, Stuart Graves, John Gann and Carl Ruffer.

JULY

New faces at Belle Vue included the much-travelled Greg Strong, formerly of Bolton, Wigan and Motherwell, one-time Man United and Notts County striker Matthew Williams while front man Carl Owen signed from Porthmadog. Rhyl earned a fine 2-1 win in a friendly against a strong Wolverhampton Wanderers.

AUGUST

League season started well with victories against Newtown (3-0) and Caernarfon (1-0) plus a fantastic 5-1 demolition of champions Llanelli. Ex-Wrexham stars Danny Williams and Josh Johnson signed for the Lilies, but Rhyl bode farewell to Chris Sharp, Marc Lloyd Williams and Craig Garside.

SEPTEMBER

Wins over Porthmadog (3-0) and Haverfordwest (2-0) ensured Rhyl made their best ever start to a Welsh Premier season. However, the Lilywhites suffered a shock home League Cup defeat to Welshpool.

OCTOBER

Rhyl coasted into the Welsh Cup third round with 8-0 annihilation of minnows Castell Alun Colts, but the League Cup quarter-finals brought a 3-1 extra time defeat at Bangor City.

NOVEMBER

Josh Johnson was selected for the Trinidad and Tobago squad for World Cup qualifier against Cuba. Rhyl drew Bangor again in Welsh Cup last 16. League match at Farrar Road was marred by crowd trouble as Rhyl defeated Bangor 2-0 to go top. Lilies lost unbeaten league record as Port Talbot ran out shock 3-2 winners at Belle Vue, but Rhyl also beat Caersws 3-1, Airbus 3-1 and Welshpool 7-1.

DECEMBER

Rhyl ended 2008 at Welsh Premier summit after thrashing Prestatyn Town 7-2 at Belle Vue. The match was watched by third highest ever WPL crowd of 2,126. Lilywhites impressed with 3-0 win at full-timers TNS, but surprisingly lost 4-3 at home to Cefn Druids.