Two second half goals saw Cefn Druids fight back from a goal down to claim a 2-1 victory at Flint Town United this evening.
Alex Darlington’s 100th Cymru Premier goal levelled procedures after Richie Foulkes opener before Iwan Cartwright’s 69th minute strike gave the Ancients their victory.
The result, Druids’ second win in four days, lifts the Ancients out of the relegation zone for the first time this season and leaves the league newcomers rock bottom of the table.
Manager Neil Gibson, without two players following two positive COVID-19 within the squad, tasted defeat in his first game in charge of the Silkmen.
Defeats for Aberystwyth and Newtown saw Druids leap up to ninth in the table, two points away from the drop. Flint still sit bottom, one point from safety.
New boss Neil Gibson would have been pleased with his side’s first half performance as they dominated the chances.
Right from the off, Ben Maher forced two saves in quick succession from Druids keeper, Michael Jones and minutes later Conor Harwood sent a long range effort just wide of the post. On the quarter hour, Jones was called into action again as Wes Baynes teed up Callum Bratley, with the Druids stopper pushing the ball around the post with a brilliant reaction save.
Moments later, Ben Maher had a go from distance with Jones again sending the ball out for a Flint corner. The deserved breakthrough came for the home team when Richie Foulkes deflected shot squirmed through the legs of Michael Jones and over the line.
It was the second time in as many games that Foulkes opened the scoring against the Druids. Harwood once again sent a shot narrowly wide before Druids finally had their first effort of the half with ten minutes to go in the first period.
Alex Darlington found space on the edge of the area but was denied by the diving save of Aaron Jones in the home net. The remainder of the half passed without further incident and Flint took a one goal into the dressing room.
The second half looked to be continuing in the same vein as Flint had two early chances. Ben Maher sent efforts off target on both occasions. But four minutes into the period, Bruno Lopes’ half time team talk sparked his side to life. The pact Chris Aziamale ran at the home defence and won a corner kick. Alex Darlington rose above Aaron Jones in the Flint goal to power a header into the centre of the goal and draw his side level, becoming a Welsh top flight centurion in the process.
Hearts were in Druid mouths five minutes later when defender Ben Nash got on the end of Baynes’ free kick. Michael Jones got just enough on it to divert it past the far post as the ball flashed by several bodies. The resulting corner fell to the foot of Bratley, whose effort was not far wide at all.
Druids suddenly began taking the game to their opponents. A Josh Green free kick from the edge of the area was comfortable for Aaron Jones and Aziamale’s pace was starting to cause some real problems at the back. The German forward had the ball in the net just after the hour, only to be denied by the offside flag.
Later he won another corner for Druids and this time Cartwright bundled the ball home to give the visitors the lead.
With twenty minutes to go, substitute Andrew Brown missed a sitter for Flint, knocking the ball wide with the goal at his mercy. Aziamale should have put the game to bed for Druids in the last ten minutes. His speed put them in a three on two situation but, rather than provide a team mate with a sure fire tap in, he elected to shoot tamely from an acute angle with Aaron Jones breathing a sigh of relief.
Flint came inches away from an equaliser in the 93rd minute with Ben Steer heading agonisingly wide of the post. There were protests for a penalty as the Flint players felt Michael Jones had made illegal contact with Steer after the header but the referee waved them away and shortly blew the full time whistle, giving Druids their second successive win.
See how the Cefn Druids defeated Flint Town United here:
(Featured Image: Cefn Druids AFC)
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