Chirk AAA kickstart their season with a dominant display against Llanidloes
CHIRK, WREXHAM, WALES - 25th FEBRUARY 2023 - Chirk's Max Mclaughlin during Chirk AAA vs Penrhyncoch FC in Round 26 of the JD Cymru North at Holyhead Road, Chirk, Wales (Pic by Sam Eaden/FAW)
Chirk AAA got their first points on the board for the season with an impressive performance against basement boys Llanidloes Town FC.
The visitors struggled with the hosts’ intensity from the onset and were punished in the 24th minute after some poor defending allowed full back Adam Williams to steal in and get on the scoresheet for the first time since 2021 to put Chirk ahead.
The visitors saw a strong penalty appeal turned down in the 26th minute after the ball appeared to strike a Chirk defender’s hand in the penalty box, but referee Rob Jenkins waved away appeals from the Town players and officials.
The sides traded chances, with Chirk number nine Louie Middlehurst seeing his headed effort well saved by Town goalkeeper Niki Bulmer. The visitors then counter-attacked and had a golden opportunity to equalise when number 11 Jamie Breese found himself clean through but lacked conviction in his finish in to punish the hosts.
As the game went on, Chirk’s dominance grew, and they should have doubled their lead just before the break when Jack Edwards set up Williams for an unlikely brace with some good work down the right hand side, but the full back failed to convert from eight yards out and the sides went in level at the break.
The hosts looked confident in the second half and again should have doubled their lead when Steffan Rogers set up Chirk number 10 Max Mclaughlin for a one-on-one with Town keeper Bulmer, but an unfortunate bobble saw Mclaughlin strike the ball over the bar.
The number 10 didn’t have to wait long for the goal his man of the match performance deserved however when a sweeping Chirk counterattack was finished off by him in style as he rounded the visitor’s goalkeeper to make it 2-0 and put the game to bed in the 60th minute
The hosts were in full flow and totally dominated the visitors, particularly aerially, with the visitors failing to threaten until the final 10 minutes when they finally had some sustained possession in the final third, but lacked potency and never truly threatened the hosts two goal lead.
Chirk travel west to Llandudno FC in their next league match as they look to continue their ascent up the table. While Llanidoes will host Airbus UK Broughton as they look to put their first points on the board next time out.
Chirk AAA: Callum Taylor (GK), Adam Williams, Jack Edwards, Ryan Williams, Matty Williams (Tristan Lloyd 75′), Ashton Williams (C), Joshua Evans (Jake Mann 75′), Joshua Phillips (Iwan Hardy 59′), Louie Middlehurst (Ryan Davies 59′) Max Mclaughlin (Daniel Burnett 82′), Steffan Rogers
Yellow cards: Jack Edwards (78′)
Goals: Adam Williams (23′), Max Mclaughlin (59′)
Llanidloes Town FC: Niki Bulmer (GK), Ryan Biggs (Nyasha Mwamuka 73′), Edward Clarke (Mason Jones 59′), Dewi Allen (Daniel Lewis 83′), Drew Reynolds, Adam Worton, Jack Orbell, Elliot Jones, Connor Bird, James Smallwood, Jamie Breese
Yellow cards: Jack Orbell, Elliot Jones, Mason Jones
Unused subs: William Denham
