Castell Alun Colts 0-1 New Brighton Villa: Lewis Jones snatches victory for Villa
Lewis Jones grabbed a late winner for New Brighton Villa to hand a first victory to new manager Shaun Antrobus and condemn Castell Alun to their third successive defeat.
With ten minutes remaining substitute Jones capitalised on slack Castell Alun defending to score his first senior goal for Villa and the only goal of the game.
Despite the low score both sides had plenty of chances in a back and forth affair. Strong winds made for difficult conditions and credit to both teams for putting on a breathless match.
Castell Alun left back Edward Brown found himself in the thick of the action from the off. A succession of New Brighton fouls brought opportunities for Brown to utilise his dead ball expertise. The closest Castey came to scoring from one of these was in the tenth minute. Brown’s cross, aided by the strong wind, had seemed to have found its way over the line only for the referee to have adjudged a foul on Villa keeper Howarth.
Lewis Tudor was forced to make way with only a quarter of an hour played through injury with Lewis Jones his replacement at left back. Castell Alun were swift to take advantage of the shakeup in the Villa defence. Nathan Davies now hugging the touchline had two identical chances to put the home side ahead. Given too much freedom down the right he barrelled towards goal before being denied twice, first with a weak shot straight at the keeper then with a fierce drive tipped wide.
Castell Alun were enjoying the lion’s share of the chances in the first half. Nathan Davies continued to be a menace down the right and Daniel Woosey should have done better from one of Davies’ crosses. Assisted by the wind the cross had looped straight onto Woosey’s head only to be headed well over. Good defending back Leigh Griffiths also saw Joshua Price’s sight of goal snuffed out after some tidy footwork.
With ten minutes remaining of the half Castell Alun thought they had opened the scoring when the ball hit the back of the net. Another left footed corner by Brown was bundled in by a ruckus of Colts players but the ref had seen a foul on Howarth so it remained goalless.
New Brighton finally came into the game as half time approached. Scott Davies began to try and make things happen for the visitors. His lung bursting run was denied at the last moment by Colts centre back Graham Dessington who was too quick and powerful. James Beck also began to show his quality, buying himself a cheap free kick before shooting the set piece into the hands of the keeper.
Castell Alun were once again the main driving force in the second half. Shouts of offside were waved away when Woosey went through on goal. A wonderful piece of invention saw him backheel a through ball to Bailey who was clattered by the onrushing Howarth and the ball was cleared. This would prove to be the last major offensive for Castell Alun in the match and New Brighton began to control proceedings without offering any chances themselves.
The game was brought back to life however with twenty minutes to go by substitute Liam Davies. Finding himself in acres of space 20 yards out Davies fired a thunderous effort that dipped over Griffiths in the Colts goal. The ball rattled the bar, bounced near the line and came back into the penalty area. Short lived celebrations were followed by loud protestations from the Villa players when the ref waived play on.
Not to be denied, Villa surged forwards and an errant pass in the Castell Alun backline allowed number 14 Lewis Jones to steal in behind the defence. He coolly stroked the ball past Nathan Griffiths to jubilant celebrations from the Villa bench. It was a rare venture forward for the early substitute from left back but a superb finish into the bottom left corner of the net.
New Brighton held strong and would not be troubled by Castell Alun in the remaining minutes. The result brings a first win of the season for Villa and they rise to sixth in these tentative stages of the season on four points. Castell Alun meanwhile remained winless this campaign. Both sides turn their attention to the FAW Trophy this Saturday. The Colts take on Lex XI at home, whilst Villa travel to Hawarden Rangers.
Castell Alun Colts: Nathan Griffiths (GK), Thomas Adams, Edward Brown, Arthur Doo, Keith Ward, Graham Dessington, Joshua Price, Rhys Williams (Harry Brown 32’), Nathan Davies (Josh Ford 82’), Daniel Woosey (Luca Nardo 72’), Benjamin Bailey
New Brighton Villa: Oliver Haworth, Max Quinn, Samuel Jones, Jared Jones, Lewis Tudor (Lewis Jones 14’), Leigh Griffiths, James Beck, Christopher Stanton (Kris Turner 75’), Aaron Davies, Scott Davies (Liam Davies 58’), Daniel Wainwright
Goals: Lewis Jones 81’
Yellow cards: Leigh Griffiths 65’, Jared Jones 88’
