Narrow defeat in Holywell

On a cold and breezy afternoon in Flintshire, Holywell Town and Bangor 1876 played out a keenly contested league encounter.

After five minutes, Bangor came close to opening the scoring. After a swift break, Corrig McGonigle laid the ball off to the Dan Cox on the edge of the Holywell area but the fullback's curling shot went inches wide of the post. Sam Jones attempted a shot on the run a few minutes later but his effort went over the bar.

Holywell midfielder Ryan Edwards shot over the bar from the edge of the box as the midway point of the first half approached before Carl Jones did well to save a shot from Jake Cooke with his feet.

Just after the half hour mark, the hosts came close to opening the scoring. There looked to be little danger when Julian Williams swung in a cross from the right but Cai Powell-Roberts’s attempted clearing header struck the crossbar before the ball was cleared.

As the clock ticked down towards half-time, some neat passing on the left created a shooting chance for Joe Sullivan but the Bangor midfielder’s effort from just outside the box was too high. There were no further opportunities in the opening period and the two sides returned to the dressings with the score goalless.

HALF-TIME: HOLYWELL TOWN 0-0 BANGOR 1876

Bangor made a lively start to the second half and a break forward by Sam Jones created a shooting opportunity for Joe Sullivan but his rising shot cleared the crossbar.

At the other end, the home side went close during a goalmouth scramble following a corner but Daniel Sullivan’s shot went over the crossbar.

Just before the hour mark, Corrig McGonigle came close to adding to his impressive goal tally. He managed to charge down an attempted clearance by home goalkeeper Pearson but the Holywell stopper recovered well to pull off a fine double save to keep the score level.

A few minutes later, the hosts took the lead somewhat against the run of play following a throw-in. A ball into the box was controlled well by substitute Mark Winslade who then scored with a powerful low shot.

Almost instantly, Bangor came close to equalising but Corrig McGonigle’s chip from the edge of the box just cleared the crossbar. Moments later, McGonigle shot wide from the left side of the penalty area.

Inside the last twenty minutes, the hosts doubled their advantage following a Bangor corner. The ball was played upfield and Jamie Breese got past Joe Culshaw before rounding Carl Jones and rolling the ball into the net.

Bangor continued to press and came close to getting a goal back when Tom Clarke's shot was turned round the post at full stretch by Pearson. From the resultant corner, Cai Powell-Roberts had better luck when he scored with a powerful shot to reduce the deficit.

Despite continued Bangor pressure, Holywell Town held out to secure a narrow victory during a frantic finish that saw Carl Jones in the visitors' box for a later corner.

FULL TIME: HOLYWELL TOWN 2-1 BANGOR 1876

We're on the road again next weekend when we travel to face Chirk AAA in an away League match on Saturday 27 January. The match kicks off at 2pm.