Match Reports

PENRHYNCOCH  0  CAERSWS  2

Caersws earned the points with a superb second half showing which left the home side stunned after dominating the first period. Mickey Evans’s men started brightly but it was soon Penrhyn who took control and went close with efforts from Tony Jones and Dylan James and with John Foligno hitting the bar, all looked favourable for the second half when the sides went into the break goalless. Caersws were a different side after the interval and soon took the lead after former Penrhyn player, Richard Evans, won a free kick  near the touchline and the resulting set piece was headed into the Penrhyn goal. The visitors were now dominant and they deservedly increased their lead with 15 minutes to go after Penrhyn failed to clear a low cross from an uncontested throw in.

Caersws showed their pedigree and showed a sizable crowd that they mean business in this league and will be looking to bounce straight back into Welsh football’s top flight. As for Penrhyn, they now face their first away game when they travel to one of the title favourites, Cefn Druids, on Saturday.

TEAM: LLEW HUGHES, J.FOLIGNO, E.EDWARDS, DYLAN JAMES, M.EGAN, T.JONES, DAN JAMES, G.LEWIS, C.EVANS, J.SHAW, A.STEPHENS

SUBS: J.HATRICK(SHAW), S.FRASER(DAN JAMES), C.WILKINS(STEPHENS)

PENRHYNCOCH  2  RUTHIN TOWN  2

PENRHYNCOCH battled their way back from being two goals down to maintain
their unbeaten start to the Cymru Alliance season against Ruthin Town at
Cae Baker.
Having claimed a convincing win over newcomers Rhayader Town in their
opening fixture, Kevin Jenkins’ side were looking to maintain momentum in
their second home match.
However, the north Walians were also on a high after beating last
season’s champions Llangefni, and they looked to have done enough to
victory with a two-goal advantage.
The visitors had Joe Garner sent off after they took the lead through
Mike Garrod, and Arran Aby netted a second for Town before Josh Hatrick
and Josh Shaw salvaged a point.
Penrhyn boss Kevin Jenkins said:’ I thought we showed great character to
come back from two down and when we equalised with 20 mins to go I
thought we might go on and sneak the win, but there are no easy games at
this level and to be fair a draw was probably a fair result. We can go
into next weeks game with confidence we can get a result as we have the
players able to do so’.

Match report:

Ruthin arrived at Cae Baker full of confidence and it showed in the
opening twenty minutes with Abby and Jones causing Penrhyn trouble with
there direct and robust style. Penrhyn gradually came back into the game
and Tony Jones was unlucky to see his shot go narrowly wide. Chris
Wilkins was having close attention from Garner and he was booked for a
30th minute foul on the winger. It was Ruthin who took the lead when an
in-swinging corner was prodded home by Garrod to the delight of a large
away following, however within 5 minutes the visitors were reduced to 10
men for the second successive week when Garner was given his marching
orders for dissent. Penrhyn now started to assert themselves with Shaw
coming close right at the end of the first half. The second half saw the
home team up the tempo and were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when
Wilkins was bundled over in the box. Ruthin regrouped and with their
first attack of the half doubled there advantage when Abby was at hand
to steer home. The game was now seemingly ebbing away from Penrhyn but
with the introduction of Matt Evans and Stuart Fraser the homesters
seemed to find another breath and in the 70th minute Josh Hartrick in
his full debut brought Penrhyn a lifeline with a fine finish. Within 2
minutes Penrhyn were level when Josh Shaw went on an excellent run into
the box and after beating 3 defenders cooly slotted home to bring the
scores level. It seemed that it would be only a matter of time for
Penrhyn to grab a winner but Ruthin now came back at the homesters and
had an excellent spell when they could have forced a win. Honours even
and both teams settled for a point in what was an entertaining game.

TEAM: LLEW HUGHES, M.EGAN, DYLAN JAMES, J.FOLIGNO, E.EDWARDS, T.JONES, C.WILKINS, J.HATRICK, G.LEWIS, A.STEPHENS, J.SHAW

SUBS: M.EVANS(T.JONES), S.FRASER(WILKINS)

PENRHYNCOCH  4  RHAYADER  1

Penrhynkicked off their league campaign with a comfortable win against newly promoted Rhayaderin the season’s opener on Friday night. In front of a large crowd, bothsides started cautiously with the game played at a frantic pace. Penrhyn soon settled and took control of the game after Rhayader started brightly and the breakthrough came after 30 minutes when the visitors failed to clear their lines to leave Josh Shaw an easy tap in from 3 yards. It was soon 2-0 after 40 minutes, Josh Shaw once again proving a handful for the back 4 and cooly placing his shot beyond the outstretched keeper.

Penrhynlookedwell on top at the beginning of the second half and soon made the game safe when Shaw’s lay off found Wilkins in acres of room to shoot past the desperate dive after just 10 minutes. With the game heading towards a walk in the park, the home side took their foot off the pedal to allow Rhayader back into the match and they deservedly scored after Penrhyn were caught sleeping at a corner, Olly Richards opening Rhayader’saccount in the league. In what could have been a nervy last 10 minutes, a neat build up was rounded off with a brilliant volley from substitute Ross March to earn Penrhyn the 3 points.

This was a important victory for the Cae Baker men in a season where home form is going to be vital. Ruthin are the visitors next week, kick off 2.30.

TEAM: LLEW HUGHES, M.EGAN, J.FOLIGNO, E.EDWARDS, DYLAN JAMES, T.JONES, DAN JAMES, A.STEPHENS, G.LEWIS, C.WILKINS, J.SHAW

SUBS: M.EVANS(WILKINS), R.MARCH(DAN JAMES), J.HATRICK(JONES)