Ynys Môn are closing in on gold at the Island Games after they progressed to the finals after beating the Shetland Islands.
Sam Jones’ brace in front of a packed 1506 crowd, sent Ynys Môn into their first Island Games final appearance in 17 years.
They survived an inspired second-half performance from the Shetland Islands as Ronan Grant pulled a goal back, following the Caernarfon attacker’s two goals in the first half.
The hosts made a quick start to the match, with the front three of Liam Morris, Cai-Powell Roberts and Liam Morris causing a lot of problems for the Shetland back four, following the absence of Melvin McGinness.
The deadlock was broken in the opening quarter of the game. A cross from Powell-Roberts found Sam Jones who lurking at the back post to volley home.
It was an emphatic start that instantly gave Ynys Môn the boost they needed with more chances to come in quick succession.
Ynys Môn were forced into an early change around the quarter hour mark, as Dafydd Jones suffered an injury, with the midfielder being replaced by rapid winger Alex Boss.
Boss instantly moved onto the right flank, with Powell-Roberts moving into the centre of midfield. Aberystwyth’s new signing Boss was played in his natural position, wasted no time in making Shetland’s left back John Allan rue his misfortune, with Boss’ trickery making himself a constant thorn in the Shetland defence.
The former Bangor man’s trickery almost added Ynys Môn’s second around the half-hour mark, when his low cross caused a goalmouth scramble that was cleared off the line by Joel Bradley as Sam Jones chased a second goal.
Jones was to get his second as the game headed towards the end of the first half when he chased down a long ball behind the visitor’s defence, standing firm before dispatching the ball beyond the helpless Grant Wood to double the hosts’ lead.
The second half though, was a completely different story, as Shetland came out and instantly settled into their stride, with Ronan Grant and James Aitken getting much more of the ball and becoming the creative hub of the side.
It was the impressive Grant that reduced the arrears for the visitors, as he reacted quickest to a loose ball in the box following a corner, to volley Shetland back into the match.
Unfortunately for Shetland, Grant couldn’t add a second, going off injured just 20 minutes later.
Despite Shetland continuing to threaten, they struggled to create any meaningful chances without their creative linchpin, and Ynys Môn stood firm to secure their place in the final.
Ynys Môn:
Paul Pritchard; Dean Garmey, Alex Jones, Tom Taylor, Ryan Taylor, Jordan Taylor, Cai Powell-Roberts, Sam Jones, Dafydd Jones (Alex Boss 15) (John Littlemore 72), Liam Morris (Tomos Clarke 80)
Shetland Islands:
Grant Wood, Robert Smith, Jack Clubb, Joel Bradley, Richard Arthur, James Aitken, Calvin Leask, Lorne McNiven, Ronan Grant (Lewis Harkness 75), John Allan, Greg Tulloch
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