Bodedern Athletic 2-0 Blaenau Ffestiniog Amateurs: Bodedern promoted after Steven Whittaker brace

Two goals from Steven Whittaker were enough to seal promotion for Bodedern Athletic from the Welsh Alliance Division 2, confirming two consecutive promotions. 

Whittaker has been in fine form for Bodedern over the course of the season, with still two games to go as he chases Matthew Griffiths for the Welsh Alliance League, Golden Boot.

Boded were presented with three opportunities to overtake Glan Conwy into second place with their games in hand, with Glan having already finished their season on 59 points.

It meant Boded needed just two points to be sure of promotion from their final three games, with Blaenau Ffestiniog Amateurs which they did so at Boded’s Cae Ty Cristion.

Blaenau started well with Bodedern struggling to get into their stride, but with the home side slowly growing into the game it was indeed Boded who had the first big chance of the game as Steven Whittaker hit the post on 28 minutes.

The same player then forced a great save from the impressive Blaenau keeper Gethin Jones moments later following good work down the left hand side by Shaun Jenkins.

Boded were starting to get frustrated with the game still goalless, but they were handed a glorious opportunity on 39 minutes as a coming together in the box resulted in the referee giving a penalty, much to the astonishment of the Blaenau players.

That man Steven Whittaker stepped up, but a fantastic save by Jones low to his left kept the scores even.

Blaenau did have a good chance of their own just before half time with Bryn Humphreys forcing a save with his feet from Boded’s former Llangefni Town keeper Kenny Hughes.

After the interval, the impressive Aiden Clarke went close but scooped a chance over the bar for Boded’s first big chance of the half.

Boded then rained a series of corners and crosses into the visitors’ box, all of which were dealt with by the resolute Blaenau defence.

Finally, the Quarrymen let Aiden Clarke in one too many times down the right, and it was his low cross that was tapped in by Whittaker.

With 17 minutes remaining, promotion was all but sealed as goal machine Whittaker brilliantly beat two players before casually slotting the ball home into the bottom left corner.

The tension was visibly lifted from the Boded players and bench who began to enjoy the rest of the afternoon, and saw the game out without any major scares from Blaenau. The final whistle blew with the referee confirming Bodedern a return to the Welsh Alliance Division 1 for  the first time since the 2014/15 season.