PICTURE by Wynne Evans shows Luke Miles celebrating his last minute winner for Fali.
THE opening weekend of football in North Wales Cost West’s Leagues certainly lived up to expectations.
There was plenty of derbies, plenty of goals and plenty of drama as the football unfolded across Anglesey and Gwynedd on Saturday afternoon.
Here’s how the action played out yesterday (as well line-ups from the games courtesy of the fantastic Cymru Football app – if you haven’t downloaded it yet, then I suggest you do!).
NORTH WALES COAST WEST PREMIER
Pwllheli came away from Amlwch Town’s Lôn Bach with an impressive 4-2 win.
Lukas Baltovic fired first after 14mins for the visitors before Jordan Edney equalised for Town on the half hour mark.
It was in the second half that the game really came to life however as goals from Rhys Williams (65’), Jason Banks (70’) and put the visitors 3-1 up before Liam Billington replied on 73mins to set up a tense finale. A Steffan Toplis penalty settled the game eight minutes from time.
Line-ups
Amlwch Town: Luke Bansal (GK), Dan Gilford, Jordan Lloyd, Jay Williams, Chris Byast, Liam Billington, Daniel Jones (C), Tom Owen, Jac Thomas, Dewi Thomas, Jordan Edney. Subs used: James Parker, Shane Jones, Rhys Roberts.
Pwllheli: Andrew Gunby (GK), Rhys Williams, Ryan Griffith, Gwyn Williams, Louis McFarlane, Lukas Baltovic (C), Steffan Toplis, Jamie Banks, Mark Jones, Jordan Banks, Jac Williams. Subs used: Dylan Davies
Les Davies was the hero for 2019/20 Gwynedd League winners Bangor 1876 as he hit a hat-trick in a 9-0 win over Pentraeth at Treborth.
Jamie Petrie set 1876 on their way to an emphatic win 14mins in before Gethin Thomas (34’) and Les Davies (37’) made it 3-0 at half time.
The home side romped to victory in the second half with Davies at the double (61’ and 89’), Thomas adding another (85’) and Chris Jones (48’, 76’) and Cameron Barry (58’) all on target as the club maintained the formidable form they found in 19/20.
Line-ups
Bangor 1876: Mark Hawkins (GK), Joe Culshaw, Shaun Lock, Cian Williams, Tomos Clarke, Corey Jones, Dylan Williams, Sam Roberts, Jamie Petrie, Les Davies (C), Chris Jones. Subs used: Aaron Heald, Cameron Barry, Ben Owen, Gethin Thomas.
Pentraeth: Morgan Goodman (GK), Peter Crowe, Jamie Roberts, Dyfed Alston, Matty Morris, Gareth Roberts, Marc Lock, Cian Lewis-Davies, Cai Evans-Hughes, Leon Owen, Tom Verburg (C). Subs used: Dylan Jones, Llyr Coyle, Gethin Randall, Robin Morris
Former Gwynedd League side Nefyn United started their 21/22 campaign in style with an emphatic 5-0 away win at Gaerwen.
The Penwaig’s win came courtesy of four first half goals from Ifan Jones (7’ and 39’), Steve Jones (42’) and Dylan Roberts (45’) before captain Gethin Trenholme added the fifth and final goal on 82mins to round off a five-star performance.
There’s no doubting Nefyn can be up there in tier four this season and this really set them on their way to doing just that.
Line-ups
Gaerwen: Callum Tipton (GK), Christy Pritchard (C), Sam Regan, Sion Jones, Tom Wilkes, Danny Roberts, Osian Evans, Tyler Hughes, Jac Davies, Adam Parry, Darren Lewthwaite. Subs used: Caleb Allport.
Nefyn United: Tristan Harrison (GK), Gethin Trenholme (C), Twm Ellis, Ifan Gwilym, Llyr Pennant, Daniel Roberts, Guto Sion Roberts, Steve Jones, Ifan Jones, Tomos Llewelyn Jones, Carl Jones. Subs used: Deio Brunelli, Rhys Williams, Deio Gwilym.
Finally, the local derby in tier four – between Llaberis and Llanrug United ended with a 3-2 victory for the visitors.
A Jon Sadler penalty put Eifion Williams’ Llanrug side 1-0 up at half time before Arwyn Price equalised on 51mins for Llanberis.
Llanrug were back in front three minutes later when Michael Owen (no, not that one!) fired them into the lead. Callum MacDonald brought Llanberis level again on 70mins but the eventual winner came just three minutes from time when Sion Phillips scored for Llanrug to seal a big win for them.
Line-ups
Llanberis: Lee Williams (GK), Dylan Parry, Mathew Edwards, Nidian Huws (C), Tom Owen, Arwyn Price, Callum MacDonald, Ryan Owen, Tom Saynor, Thomas Collins, Ifan Mansoor.
Llanrug United: Iolo Jones (GK), Robin Thomas, Mathew Philips, Michael Owen, Eifion Williams (C), Sion Phillips, Osian Roberts, Morgan Williams, Deion Hughes, Carl Griffiths, Jon Sadler.
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NORTH WALES COAST WEST DIVISION ONE
In what was probably the game of the weekend in tier five – Cefni and Llangoed played out a very entertaining 3-3 draw at Isgraig. A game which I was very fortunate to be at both on behalf of the blog and the new Môn FM Sport show hosted by Ryan McKean!
Danny Jones’ Cefni side raced into an early 2-0 lead within the first 20 minutes as a Marc Parry penalty and a Kieran Murphy own goal gave them the advantage.
Anthony Williams then pulled one back for Llangoed on 41 minutes with a great turn and finish before Parry doubled Cefni’s lead with his second of the game right on half time.
In the second half, the visitors battled well to claw back a well-deserved point.
Williams got the hearts racing with his brace – another excellent turn as low and hard finish for three two on the hour mark. He then completed his hat-trick some ten minutes later after some great work from Wayne Thomas found George Roberts down the right who whipped in a sensational ball into the back post for the attacker to head home from close range.
It was a great comeback from Llangoed who had looked down and out for most of the first half and a sign that their youthful side could do well this year. Further proof of that was that, despite Williams’ hat-trick, the Man of the Match award was handed to 16-year-old attacker Ashley Davies (below) who showed great heart throughout.
Line-ups
Cefni: Lee Williams, Dan Richards, Graham Jones, Andrew Cleator, Henry Caldecott, Hugh Alan Jones, Matty Roberts, Ben Wright (C), Marc Parry, Craig Evans, Nathan Lewis. Subs used: Iwan Jones, Lee Lewis, Gareth Roberts, Mark Wayne Hughes, Gwion Williams
Llangoed: Duane Hunt, Nathaniel Evans, Kieran Murphy, Connor O’Neill, Josh Pugh, Daniel Owen, George Roberts, Deio Roberts, Wayne Thomas, Anthony Williams, Ashley Davies. Subs used: Cameron Slater, David Thomas, Harry Gregson.
Waunfawr picked up a huge 3-1 win away at Bethesda Athletic’s Parc Meurig.
Two penalties in the first half – one converted by the visitors’ Guto Llywelyn and the other by Mike Lundstram for Pesda, saw the score at 1-1 at half time.
Aled Pritchard then gave the Beganifs the lead just before the hour mark before Meurig Parry scored to give them a two-goal cushion on 73mins.
Waun then held out for a big three points against a Bethesda side who had been in top form in pre-season.
Line-ups
Bethesda Athletic: Aran Smith (GK), Dion Williams, Dafydd Williams, Osian Hughes (C), Kieron Bullock, Sion Bullock, Tomos Eames, Joseph Todd, Mike Lundstram, Tomos Hughes, Kyle Hartleb. Subs used: Lewis Dixon, Adrian Roberts, Cameron Robertson, Owen Roberts.
Waunfawr: Oliver Jones (GK), Ieuan Parry, Dylan Hughes, Jason Owen, Josh Williams, Aled Pritchard, Rhodri Owen, Iwan Bohana, Ian Pleming, Guto Llywelyn (C), Adam Jones. Subs used: Meurig Parry, Carwyn Thompson.
Elsewhere, Bontnewydd enjoyed an emphatic 5-0 victory over local rivals Mountain Rangers – who were Anglesey League runners-up in 2019/20.
Goals from Cai Jones (8’), Morgan Roberts (25’ and 37’) and young star Sean McGrath just before half time saw Bont cruise into the break with a 4-0 lead to their name.
A second half goal from Cai Edwards only added insult to injury for Rangers but certainly showed that Simon Jones’ Bont side could be one to watch in tier five this season.
His very youthful side (most of whom were under 20) outclassed their superiorly experienced opponents during yesterday’s match.
Line-ups
Bontnewydd: Michael Peters (GK), Cai Jones, Cian Bee, Meilir Owen, Gari Owen (C), Osian Glyn, Sean McGrath, Josh Roberts, Cai Edwards, Morgan Roberts, Alex Kalafusz. Subs used: Gwion Rowlands, Gareth Hughes-Thomas, Cai Thomas-Eynon,
Mountain Rangers: Jason Hughes (GK), Declan Williams, Irfon Hughes, Tom Philp, Cai Jones, Stephen Hughes, Kevin Barlow, Marc Williams, Simon Kay (C), Osian Hughes-Jones, Sam Williams. Subs used: Dylan Bee, Cian Pleming, Jason Taylor.
The biggest win of the afternoon in tier five in the West of North Wales went to Talysarn Celts who crushed Bodorgan 9-0.
The Celts 2019/20 Young Players of the Season, Luke Baum scored five of their goals, with Garem Jones, Jack Usher and David Aaron Jones also adding one apiece and an own goal completing the scoreline.
Attacker Baum (above) places himself as the league’s early top goalscorer after a fine performance. The 19-year-old scored 12 goals in the Gwynedd League season in 2019/20 as the Celts finished fifth – he is already nearly halfway to that tally this season after just one match.
Line-ups
Talysarn Celts: Brian Page (GK), Osian Jones, Dylan Roberts, David Aaron Jones, Thomas Usher, Garem Jones, Glyn Thomas-Hughes, Jack Usher, Luke Baum, Deian Williams, Gerwyn Williams (C).
Bodorgan: Josh Roberts (GK), Osian Lloyd, Matthew Jones, Luke Winter, Tom Innes, Steven Jones, Keenan Latham, Daniel Jones, Billy Kennedy, Sam Hallas, Luke Allaway.
And finally … the award for most dramatic moment of the weekend must surely go to the last minute winner which occurred in a 1-0 win at Fali’s Cae Mwd.
And it went in the home team’s favour – as midfielder Luke Miles secured the three points for his side in the dying moments of their encounter v Llanfairpwll.
It was a fantastic result for Fali, who were on top for most of the match, as only a few weeks ago, they were said to be struggling to continue as a club.
Substitute Rhys Thomas forced the Llanfair centre back into a mistake and Miles pounced to score the late winner.
Line-ups
Fali: Sammie Williams (GK), Shaun Jones, Dan Manning, Jack Halton, David Williams, Morgan Jones, Owain Roberts, Luke Miles, Mark Hamblin (C), Marc Wilson. Subs used: Alex Mayall, Morgan Rowlands, Rhys Thomas.
Llanfairpwll: Peter Finn (GK), Carwyn Roberts, Aled Davies, Cian Williams, Josh Roberts, Gethin Williams (C), Cian Owen, Iwan Williams, Danny Connolly, Callum Jones, Adam Thomas. Subs used: Marquis Holland, Morgan Davies, Kieron Davies.
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