Flint Town United jumped out the bottom two with a comprehensive 6-0 victory at nine man Cefn Druids in the Cymru Premier.
A hattrick from Josh Amis, a Jacob Wise own goal and one apiece for Ben Maher and Sam Hart compounded a miserable night for the Druids, who had Alex Darlington and Kieran Smith sent off in the second half.
The result, coupled with Aberystwyth’s 2-2 draw against Haverfordwest sees Flint rise to 10th in the table, three points off 8th with two games to go.
It’s the third game in succession Druids have conceded five or more and they remain rooted to the foot of the table.
Both sides made three changes to their line ups from the weekend. Jacob Wise returned to the Druids line up, joined by Ethan Cartwright and Kieran Smith. They replaced Aaron Simpson, Sam Phillips and Max Pritchard.
For Flint, Ryan Woods started just his second game of the season in goal, with Jon Rushton sitting on the bench despite five clean sheets in the last seven games. Callum Bratley and Ross Weaver also dropped to the bench and were replaced by Edmond Clarke and Conor Harwood.
The visitors wasted no time in taking the game to their opponents, winning a corner in the opening seconds, which Evan Gumbs headed just wide.
Druids hit back, stringing some passing moves together without seriously troubling the Flint defence.
It wasn’t long before Flint were ahead. Josh Amis came close with a header on seven minutes, but narrowly missed the target. The resulting goal kick was played short and the ball was gifted to Conor Harwood in the box who laid it off for Amis to tap in from close range.
On the quarter hour, Druids had a promising looking move than ended with Charley Edge firing over from the 18 yard line. Flint immediately countered with Harwood turning Wise before scuffing his shot harmlessly wide.
Five minutes later, Flint had a free kick in a dangerous position but Hampson’s shot bounced into Mike Jones’ arms.
Druids then went down the other end and won a free kick of their own in the D. Alex Darlington’s driven effort rebounded off the wall and he conceded a foul trying to win it back.
Cefn Druids’ best chance of the game fell to Bradley Knight, whose near post header forced a save from Woods.
On the half hour, Flint were forced to play six minutes with ten men as Jake Hampson hobbled off. Despite the disadvantage, they fashioned a great chance for Amis as he charged through the defence and fired straight at Jones.
Moments later, Amis was through on goal again, having beaten Wise to a bouncing ball and was again denied by Jones.
As the half drew to a close Amis again terrorised the defence, round keeper Jones, only to find himself at too tight and angle to shoot at goal. His cross was knocked behind for a corner, from which Flint should have doubled their lead.
First, a Druids defender headed the delivery onto his own crossbar, the Conor Harwood’s strike was cleared off the line and the rebound was lashed into the side netting.
Harwood found himself through on goal in first half stoppage time only for Jones to be the hero again with a fine save.
Neil Gibson’s men went into the break wondering how they were only a goal up.
After the break, Flint continued their dominance and were rewarded on 52 minutes as Amis finally found his second with a low finish under an onrushing Jones.
In the aftermath of the goal, a skirmish broke out between both sets of players, the epicentre of which appeared to be Alex Darlington and Ritchie Foulkes. After a lengthy discussion with his assistants, referee Owen Thomas awarded two yellow cards, and subsequently a red, to Alex Darlington. He then showed a further three yellows to Jacob Wise of Druids and Foulkes and Amis of Flint.
Three minutes later, Amis won a free kick for Flint twenty five yards out in a central location. Ben Maher stepped up and drilled a shot past Jones to make it 3-0.
Druids really should have scored in the 66th minute when Joe Faux laid a golden opportunity on a plate for his strikers but no one managed to get a touch to turn it home.
They didn’t have long to rue the missed effort as Flint immediately went up the other end and scored. Edmond Clarke found spade down the left flank and produced an inch perfect cross for Amis to place the ball just inside the post for his hattrick.
Foulkes and Clarke were subbed in the break of play for Mark Cadwallader and Ross Weaver. Cadwallader’s first act was to win a free kick by drawing a foul from Kieran Smith. The referee then produced a second yellow for the Druids centre back and they were down to nine men with twenty minutes to go.
To make matters worse for the Druids, Jacob Wise diverted a cross into his own net to give Flint a five goal advantage.
Josh Amis was withdrawn with ten minutes left on the clock and despite the two man advantage and dominating possession, Flint found it difficult to break down the all out Druids defence.
It looked as though they would hold out without conceding another before a Sam Hart flicked header in injury time rubbed salt into the wounds.
Flint celebrated leaving the bottom two as Druids trudged off the pitch. The only consolation after the final home game of a season to forget is that their top flight status is safe, regardless of league position.
Cefn Druids: Michael Jones (C), Josh Green, Ethan Cartwright, Alex Darlington, Niall Flint, Joe Faux, Kieran Smith, Jacob Wise, Steffan Edwards, Charley Edge, Bradley Knight.
Substitutes: Sam Phillips, Harry Fuller, Joshua Hughes, Max Pritchard, Mitchell Williams.
Flint Town United: Ryan Woods, Sam Hart, Eddie Clarke, Ben Nash, Richie Foulkes, Josh Amis, Alex Jones, Evan Gumbs, Connor Harwood, Ben Maher, Jake Hampson.
Substitutes: John Rushton, Kai Edwards, Mark Cadwallader, Callum Bratley, Ross Weaver, Mason Blackwell-Jones, Elijah Beattie
(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell)
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