High-flyers Flint and Penybont ended the first phase of the Cymru Premier with a 1-1 draw in a high-tempo game at the SDM Glass Stadium.
Things were looking good for Penybont when they opened the scoring after 90 seconds, but a superb performance from Jon Rushton between the Flint sticks salvaged a point for the Steelmen, with the help of Michael Wilde’s penalty.
Penybont got off to a dream start in the opening minutes. Mael Davies ran all the way from his own half, showing Weaver a clean pair of heels before breaking into the box, and his shot was deflected off Wood to take it out of Rushton’s reach.
The home side got plenty of chances from dead ball situations, with Kane Owen a constant threat from corners and free-kicks. Ten minutes in, Rushton pulled off a superb save to tip Owen’s curling free-kick over the bar. Ten minutes later, Kane Owen found Billy Borge unmarked with a free-kick, who headed it across the goal to his centre-back partner Dan Jefferies, but the latter’s header was straight at Rushton. A few minutes later, another free-kick led to another Penybont chance, but MacDonald’s half-volley flew over the bar.
Flint managed to get down the other end to create their first real chance of the game, where Ben Maher saw his powerful shot from the edge of the box deflected away from goal. Flint goalkeeper Rushton was in the action again shortly after, denying Clutton twice – once from close range and once from outside the box.
After creating Flint’s only chance of the game thus far, Ben Maher was involved again, showing his dribbling ability to break from his own half all the way to the Penybont box, where he slotted the ball through to Callum Bratley. When Bratley went down, Billy Borge was adjudged to have fouled him, and referee Tom Owen pointed to the spot. Michael Wilde duly converted the spot-kick, bringing Flint level against the run of play.
Penybont had enough time to fit in one more chance before the half-time break, when the ball fell to Nathan Wood on the far post, but Rushton again did superbly well to tip the shot over the bar.
Flint started the second half much brighter, with Weaver finding only the side netting in the opening seconds, and Michael Wilde failing to connect with the ball from an overhead kick attempt.
However, it was Penybont who had the biggest opportunity of the half, when Kai Whitmore was brought down by Weaver in the box, and again Tom Owen awarded a penalty. It was Nathan Wood who was chosen to take the spot-kick, but Rushton was equal to his effort, correctly guessing the direction of the shot and parrying it away from danger.
After being selected on the bench in Flint’s last four games, Rushton continued showing why he should be first choice for Neil Gibson’s side, tipping another close-range shot over the bar. Flint then counter-attacked and broke all the way into the Penybont box, but captain Alex Jones dragged his shot wide.
Penybont continued creating plenty of chances, with Owen, Davies and Wood all playing some great balls into the box, but their team-mates weren’t in the right place to make the most of them.
There was a frantic ending to the game, with Flint being awarded a corner which led to a goal-line scramble, and eventually it was hooked off the line by the Penybont defence. Penybont then tried to hit Flint on the counter, and Keane Watts seemed to be dragged down by Maher, who was the final man, just inside the box, but Tom Owen opted not to award a penalty and instead blew the final whistle.
Penybont remain in second place after today’s draw, with Flint staying in fourth. However, with just one point seperating them, and indeed just two points seperating second and sixth, there is set to be a dramatic conclusion to the top half in phase two.
Player of the Match
Jon Rushton – Flint Town United
Rushton has been playing second-fiddle to Ryan Woods since the restart, but his performance today was one of the best by a goalkeeper all season, and it’s likely that Rushton will keep his place between the sticks for the next few weeks.
Line-ups
Penybont: (3-4-3) Ashley Morris; Billy Borge (Keane Watts 59′), Shaun MacDonald, Dan Jefferies; Mael Davies, Kai Whitmore (Ryan Reynolds 73′), Ashley Evans, Kane Owen (c); Lewis Clutton (Liam Walsh 83′), Sam Snaith, Nathan Wood
Unused substitutes: Rhys Wilson, Tom Tweedy, Rhys Griffiths
Goal: Nathan Wood 2′
Yellow card: Ashley Evans 84′
Flint Town: (4-3-1-2) Jon Rushton; Jake Phillips, Ben Nash, Kai Edwards, Sam Hart; Ben Maher, Alex Jones (c), Ross Weaver (Dan Roberts 56′); Callum Bratley; Conor Harwood (Mark Cadwallader 89′), Michael Wilde
Unused substitutes: Ryan Woods, Sam Duffy, Liam Ellis, Jack Higgins
Goal: Michael Wilde (P) 37′
Yellow cards: Ben Maher 45+2, Ross Weaver 51, Kai Edwards 89′
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