Rhys Griffiths saves day as player-manager nets Penybont winner to end Flint’s perfect start
Rhys Kavanagh of Penybont celebrates scoring his sides first goal. Penybont v Flint Town in the JD Cymru Premier at Bryntirion Park on the 26th July 2022.
Rhys Griffiths rolled back the years as the Penybont player-manager was on target in their 2-1 win over Flint Town United.
Griffiths was an eleventh-hour change to the Penybont starting line-up replacing Ashley Evans and his goal on the hour
A tight first half saw Flint Take the lead with Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro after 30 minutes. The goal came against the run of play with Penybont having the better chances of the half.
Rhys Kavanagh levelled the game just after halftime before manager Rhys Griffiths gave Penybont the lead just before the hour.
Flint drop down to fifth in the table while Penybont remain in sixth place. Both sides are just a point behind the top two of Haverfordwest and TNS.
Penybont had the better of the opening 20 minutes creating the better chances. A slick pass from Rhys Griffiths found Nathan Wood out wide. Wood sent the ball into the box for Rhys Kavanagh, but he was unable to control it.
Wood soon after found Kavanagh again but this time he put his effort over the bar.
Despite having the better of the game Penybont found themselves going behind. Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro with a run into the box and then coolly rolling the ball under Kelland Absalom.
Penybont kept creating chances and Kavanagh forced Dawid Szczepaniak into a good save.
Penybont got off to a flying start after the break. In their first real attack Nathan Wood found Kavanagh at the near post and he fired in the equaliser.
The hosts kept the pressure going and just before the hour Nathan Wood hit a low drive at goal. A fine diving save from Szczepaniak stopped a goal. Penybont kept the play alive, and a cross came into the box where Rhys Griffiths was able to head home.
Flint tried to work their way back into the game. A through ball found Okera Simmonds in on goal but looked certain to score but a late tackle from Kane Owen stopped him.
Flint kept pushing for a leveller, but Penybont held out for a big win.
Penybont: Kelland Absalom (C), Mark Little, Kane Owen (C), Rhys Griffiths, Dan Jefferies, Nathan Wood, Kai Whitmore, Keyon Reffell, Billy Borge, Rhys Kavanagh (Mael Davies 75), Ryan Reynolds (Tom Tweedy 81).
Goals: Rhys Kavanagh 46, Rhys Griffiths 59,
Yellow Cards: Rhys Kavanagh 44, Billy Borge 65, Rhys Griffiths 90.
Flint Town: Dawid Szczepaniak (C), Jordan Carroll, Omar Ibrahim, Harry Owen, Daniel Harrison (C), Larnell Cole (Jayden Major 60), Okera Simmonds, Ben Hughes (Jack Hindle 53), Berti Diau, Bobby Beaumont-Broadhead, Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro.
Goals: Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro 30,
Yellow Cards: Daniel Harrison 38, Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro 65, Okera Simmonds 85.
