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BLAENAU AMATEURS 1 HOLYWELL TOWN 3.

It has been many a season since these two teams met in league action and some of us can remember some epic tussels between the sides in the days of the old Welsh League Division 1 North when hundreds used to turn up to Cae Clyd to witness those games. The numbers attending games these days may have dwindled but they witnessed on Saturday an enjoyable encounter which the visitors won simply by taking their chances. On a glorious afternoon with the Moelwyn peaks glistening in the distance the visitors got off to the best possible start with two well taken goals inside the first quarter of an hour the first being a snap shot from their captain Gareth Thomas from around 25 yards which gave Arn Threadgill in the home goal no chance of saving. Worse was to follow when Wayne Edwards beat the home side offside trap and coolly lobbed the ball over the advancing Amateurs keeper.To their credit the home side though missing the influential Gareth Roberts in midfield tried their best to get back into the match but that final killer punch was sadly lacking. The nearest they came was when Gary Hughes at the far post saw his effort come back off the crossbar whilst Ceri Roberts was inches away with a lob which grazed the top of the bar. The home side had more of the share of the play as the visitors defence throughout looked shaky at times but up front Edwards and Gareth Thomas were a handful for the home defence who on the whole coped well with their threat. The break came with the visitors holding that flattering 2-0 scoreline but within minutes of the restart Ceri Roberts nipped in to take advantage of some sloppy play by the visitors defence and he stroked the ball past Mark Goode the Holywell keeper for 2-1. Within minutes the home side were nearly level as Goode made a splendid save to keep out a gaol bound effort from John O'Donovan. Had that gone in who knows what might have happened but on 52 minutes the home defence were caught out by a corner kick which Wayne Edwards bundled into the net by the far post. From then on to the end of the match it was the home side who had most of the play but the nearest they came to scoring was when substitute Karl Kananagh's effort was inches wide. There were some meaty challenges by both sides but full marks to the referee who for once showed a little more common sense that some previous card waving officials have done. There was nothing for the Amateurs to be ashamed in this defeat but the lesson was there for all to see that one must take your chances in any level of soccer. Sadly on Saturday Holywell did and the Amateurs didn't. The Amateurs have no game this Saturday and their next engagement will be on September26 a cup tie away at Amlwch which will be followed the following Saturday with a league match also at Amlwch.

Meirion Ellis