Llanuwchllyn rose to second in the Ardal North East table after an exciting victory against Dolgellau AA on Wednesday evening.
Cae Llan hosted Llanuwchllyn’s first home fixture of the season in the glorious August sunshine welcoming local rivals Dolgellau AA in front of a 150-strong attendance.
Sam Evans opened the scoring for the hosts in the first half before Garmon Hafal made sure of the victory four minutes from time.
The hosts began well and saw much of the play until the mid-half water break. Striker Joe Williams saw Llan’s first effort on goal after three minutes with his eighteen-yard shot saved by Darren Andrews in the Dolgellau net.
Kyle Jones’ powerful daisycutter from 30 yards was denied by Andrews minutes before Llan took the lead. Superb work on the right-hand side by Tom Jones saw him deliver the ball into Sam Evans’ path which he drilled into the bottom corner from 16 yards out with nine minutes played.
Llanuwchllyn were playing well but following the water break Dolgellau saw fresh impetuous to get back into the game and were far more competitive to their credit.
A corner for the visitors almost saw a leveller when Jonathan Harisson’s header was blocked and the rebound parried out by Rob Dascalu.
Williams and Jones both had attempts from distance for the hosts but the two efforts were pulled wide of the near upright.
Before the interval, Dolgellau’s Daniel Thomas’ strike from the edge of the D was saved solidly by Dascalu.
The second half was fiercely competitive with Dolgellau much more in the game and taking the game to the hosts.
A pacy run from Gerwyn Williams on the right flank was passed to Ioan Roberts which he scuffed allowing for Owain ap Gareth to turn out for a corner. The resulting kick came close again with Harisson half volleying the chance past the post.
Down the other end, Tom Jones put his opportunity in the side netting after a great counter-attacking move.
Dolgellau’s best chance of a leveller came on the hour when a cross from the left on a plate from Williams went begging when his two incoming team-mates couldn’t get the final crucial touch on his delivery.
Tom Jones’ diving header almost doubled Llan’s tally after a good passage of play before Williams sent his header narrowly over the bar for Dolgellau.
Substitute David Edwards brought fresh motivation in the closing stages for the visitors who were finishing strongly. His run down the right set up Roberts unmarked one-on-one with Dascalu but he fired his golden opportunity wide of the left post.
However, it was Llan who doubled their advantage when a corner kick was met by Garmon Hafal’s freekick at the near post to make it 2-0.
Dol continued to threaten even as they trailed and in injury time had two chances to get something from the fixture. Dascalu made a superb save to deny a cross-cum-shot that was destined for the top corner followed by Williams’ 30 yard freekick sailing over the crossbar in the final minute.
A fantastic advert for the Ardal North East between two clubs who will be highly competitive this season.
Llanuwchllyn: 1. Rob Dascalu, 2. Owain ap Gareth, 3. David Jones, 4. Garmon Hafal, 5. Daniel Roberts, 6. Kyle Jones, 7. Elis Jones (16. Ifan Jones 69′), 8. John Evans, 9. Joe Williams (12. Iolo Jones 90+4′), 10. Sam Evans, 11. Tom Jones (14 Warren Aykroyd-Duckett 80′).
Subs not used: 15. Sam Tyrer, 17. Prys Jones.
Yellows: Kyle Jones 27′, John Evans 61′, Joe Williams 90+3′.
Goals: Sam Evans 10′, Garmon Hafal 86′.
Dolgellau AA: 1. Darren Andrews, 2. Dion James, 3. Johan Kamp, 4. Jonathan Harisson, 5. Jonathan Sutton, 6. Iwan Jones, 7. Daniel Thomas (16. David Edwards 76′), 8. Jake Jones, 9. Gerwyn Williams, 10. Rob Evans, 11. Ioan Roberts (17. Morgan Slater 89′).
Subs not used: 12. Harri Davies, 14. Jonathan Leeds, 15. Gethin Evans.
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