PICTURE BY AP PhotoServ.
ONLY three matches were played in North Wales Coast West’s Premier Division this weekend.
That’s down to some of the tier four clubs being in, and advancing in, the NWCFA Intermediate Cup which was also taking place.
But, there was still plenty of action which unfolded in the Premier on Saturday. Here’s how it all played out …
Bethesda Athletic 2-2 Talysarn Celts
As expected, the fixture between the league’s top two certainly didn’t fail to disappoint.
Both Athletic and Celts were promoted to the Premier Division over the summer having finished second and third in Division One in 21/22 respectively.
And yet, it is these two clubs that are currently setting the standard in tier four with some fine performances to date.
Talysarn took the lead in this entertaining game at Parc Meurig. The in-form Glyn Hughes-Thomas was on hand to fire in the opener just 3 minutes in.
And things got even better when the same player notched up his ninth league goal of the season just ten minutes later to put Celts in complete control of the tie.
But, as has always been the case with Pesda under Mark Hughes’ guidance, they refused to give up and found a way back in the second half.
A penalty converted by 21/22 top scorer Joe Todd – his 3rd goal in 4 Premier matches this season – set up a nervy last 20 minutes for the visitors.
And it was eventual heartbreak for the Celts as substitute Scott Hughes popped up to snatch a point for Athletic in the 98th minute of the match.
It was a thrilling encounter between two great sides and, as you’d expect, very feisty too with referee Martin Trigg handing out three yellow cards to Athletic and six yellows and a red to Talysarn Celts – including a caution for manager Wayne Jones.
Two teams to keep an eye on in the Premier this season as it develops no doubt!
Llanberis 1-2 Penrhyndeudraeth
A massive victory for the visitors here as they picked up their third win in nine league matches away at Llanberis who had previously won four out of seven.
And it was an afternoon to remember for one Penrhyn player in particular.
Attacker Tom Hughes was the star of the show as he bagged both goals for his club – meaning that he has now passed the 100-goal mark for his club.
The 35-year-old opened the scoring on the half-hour mark before another veteran forward – Marcus Orlik – equalised for Llanberis just after the hour-mark.
That was the 37-year-old forward’s sixth goal in just three league appearances for the home team this season.
But it was Hughes who would again be the hero for Penrhyn on the day as he netted the match-winner with just 15mins to go.
That sees him take his tally to 100 goals in 178 matches for Penrhyndeudraeth who move up to 10th in the Premier table for now.
Aberffraw 1-4 Amlwch Town
Town made it four wins out of eight in the league so far this season with an impressive away victory at Cae Cynlas.
Berffro started off on the front foot with Adam Hallybone’s penalty firing them in front on 15 minutes and the scoreline remained 1-0 until halftime.
But, Amlwch produced a great performance late on to go and secure another three points which has now taken them up to sixth place in the table.
Four goals after 80 minutes saw the scoreline completely turned on its head.
Skipper Dan Jones was first on the scoresheet (84’) before Chris Byast converted from the spot to make it 2-1 (88’).
Substitute Ioan Evans then came off the bench to make an immediate impact and score (91’) before Byast managed to add a second himself (96’).
LEAGUE TABLE (matches played in brackets)
- 1 Talysarn Celts – 20pts (9)
- 2 Bethesda Athletic – 20pts (9)
- 3 Pwllheli – 16pts (7)
- 4 Gwalchmai – 15pts (7)
- 5 Llanberis – 15pts (8)
- 6 Amlwch Town – 13pts (8)
- 7 Menai Tigers – 12pts (8)
- 8 Nefyn United – 10pts (6)
- 9 Mynydd Llandegai – 9pts (8)
- 10 Penrhyndeudraeth – 9pts (9)
- 11 Aberffraw – 7pts (7)
- 12 Llanerchymedd – 5pts (8)
- 13 Glantraeth – 4pts (6)
- 14 Llanrug United – 4pts (5)
- 15 Pentraeth – 4pts (9)
TOP SCORERS (League goals only)
- Luke Baum, Talysarn Celts – 9 goals (9 matches)
- Glyn Hughes-Thomas, Talysarn Celts – 9 goals (7 matches)
- Osian Hughes, Bethesda Athletic – 6 goals (8 matches)
- Marcus Orlik, Llanberis – 6 goals (3 matches)
- Benn Lundstram, Bethesda Athletic – 5 goals (4 matches)
- Callum Thomas, Menai Tigers – 5 goals (7 matches)
- Jac Jones, Talysarn Celts – 5 goals (8 matches)
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