Holywell Town scored two goals in two minutes to defeat Prestatyn Town 4-3 and progress in the Nathaniel MG Cup.
Holywell Town advance to the Nathaniel MG Cup fourth round after surviving going behind twice to Prestatyn Town in a highly entertaining tie at Bastion Gardens.
Goals from Oli Buckley, Jake Cooke, Zebb Edwards and Dylan Allshorn gave the Cymru North strugglers a dramatic comeback win over the Seasiders.
It was a quiet start for both sides with neither side able to get forward until the 8th minute when Oli Buckley took a ball in stride before beating James Coates from inside the area. Buckley could’ve had a second a couple of minutes later but his left footed effort was dragged wide.
It wasn’t until 20 minutes had passed before the home side kicked into gear, chances for Jacob Wise and Charlie Mann forced Wellmen stopper Keighan Jones into making saves, but he was beaten from a bizarre own goal on 25 minutes. The ball was launched into the box from a Prestatyn throw in, Jamie Reed hit a shot which cannoned off a defender and the scramble to clear saw the ball rebound off a Holywell player and looped over Jones and the defender on the line.
Following the goal the home side’s spirits were lifted and they created two great opportunites after the half hour mark as Wes Baynes 25 yard free kick needed the fingertips of Keighan Jones to deny a second goal and a Kai Wallis effort was deflected onto the post with the Wellmen keeper beaten.
The second Prestatyn goal came on the stroke of half time with a touch of controversy. Ben Barratt found himself on the end of a Prestatyn free kick which looked to have been flicked on by a red shirt before slotting past Jones. The visitors surrounded the referee and his assistant as they believed the Seasiders centre-back was offside from the flick on, the protests went on into half-time.
The second half started brightly for the home side as chances came from a Dom McHugh free kick which was denied by Jones and a Jamie Reed attempt to catch the keeper off his line from the right wing hit the top of the crossbar.
Holywell got back into the game shortly before the hour mark, first an Ilan ap Gareth shot was saved by Coates, then corner after corner came with the home side defending until 58 minutes when a clearance fell to the visitors, Luke Edwards played in a great pass to Jake Cooke who remained composed as he beat Coates to equalise.
The game hit a flashpoint not long after as Kai Wallis, already on a yellow card and moments after forcing another strong save from Jones caught Dylan Allshorn late and was fortunate to only receive a final warning.
As the game approached the final 20 minutes it was the home side who took the lead for a second time through Wes Baynes, who hit a sweet volley from the edge of the Wellmen’s box which hit a defender which wrong-footed Jones.
Less than ten minutes later the game completely turned on its head, Holywell equalised through Zebb Edwards’ diving header from an Ilan ap Gareth cross then almost straight from the kick off it was 4-3 to the visitors, Ben Brierley won a high ball against a Prestatyn defender before finding Dylan Allshorn who tucked past Coates and sending the travelling fans wild at the far end of the ground, the just minutes later Allshorn could’ve made it 5-3 as he dragged an effort wide.
Desperation was kicking in for the Seasiders now and with a few minutes to go they could’ve been down to ten men as Jamie Reed and Keighan Jones chased a ball forward, the veteran striker challenged high for the ball, catching Jones around the knee and sending him to the ground in some pain, fortunately for the Prestatyn man he only saw yellow.
Jones was called into action from Reed just moments later as he met a cross with a strong header from a few yards out which the Wellmen keeper comfortably saved. Added time came with no incident and Holywell held on for a fantastic win in a memorable Nathaniel MG Cup tie.
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