Match Preview

We make the trip down the A451 tomorrow, as we visit Moreton Playing Fields, home of Johnstown Youth. The reverse game was played back in October, in the middle of our impressive winning run, we came out 10-0 winners. A highlight of that game being a hat trick from the ‘’little fat man’’ Craig Williams and a first ever goal for New Dad Max Quinn. A lot has happened since then- Johnstown have showed improvement since the turn of the year and we are well aware this won’t be a walk over; they are fighting for survival and any question of a walkover is squashed when looking at their form in 2017. In January they picked up 4 points, after just 1 in the previous five months.

2017 so far…

NBV kicked off the year with a historically tricky away trip to Point of Ayr. A hard fought game on a small pitch that had seen better days, we came away with a well-deserved 3 points; winning 3-1. The original date for this cup tie, 14th Jan, then fell victim of the weather. A free week and a postponement due to the ref shortage followed as we very much had our own DryJan. That sequence continued into February, with our League Cup Quarter Final vs Rhostyllen was called off by the council due to the weather. With this second postponement by the council we regrettable relinquish home advantage for the tie, with the game now scheduled for March 4th at Rhostyllen.

Johnstown kicked off 2017 with a Bank Holiday NEWFA Cup tie; away at Acrefair in a game that went all the way. With 90 minutes and 30 minutes of extra time unable to separate them, the 0-0 game went to penalties. Acrefair kept their nerve to win 4-2. Johnstown followed this up with their first league game of 2017, and started with a win. Beating Measgwyn 3-1 away, it was a massive 3 points in their relegation battle. They quickly followed this up with a last gasp home point, drawing 2-2 with Point of Ayr; in which “‘Captain Marvel’ Llion Drake weighed in with a last gasp equaliser with an exquisite curling shot from the edge of the box”.

Their momentum was interrupted slightly with a postponed game vs Rhos Aelwyd the following week, and since that forced free week they have faced two promotion chasing teams. First up was a home loss to Llangollen (0-5) before an impressive result last week, despite it being a defeat. They travelled to the in-form team in the league and many people’s favourite for the title, Lex Glyndwr, and lost a 9 goal thriller 6-3. Despite those two losses, they have certainly made a positive start to 2017 as they look to keep their WNL Division One status; with reports of them being a much improved side of late highlighted with their form since the New Year.

Team News

Leigh Griffiths and Braden Lavin return to the squad (again); they have looked sharp in training with both having their returns in recent weeks hampered by the postponements. Also returning to the squad, for their first appearances of 2017, are Nathan Blythin and Ste Orsler. Both missed our only game this year due to work commitments and, along with everyone else, will be hoping this is finally the weekend we have football again.

Squad for tomorrow;

Rhys Peers; Sam Reilly, Adam Funnell, Braden Lavin, Dean Blythin, Jordan Dorrington; Sam Wainwright, Nathan Blythin, Craig Williams; Lewis Jones, Grant Spencer, Ste Orsler; Ross Sumner, Leigh Griffiths.

Playing at the home of Johnstown, Moreton Playing Fields (LL14 2BD), where the locals are usually out in force, we have a slightly earlier kick-off this week. With the Rugby 6 Nations in full flow, both sides have agreed to a 1pm K/O. A game that should produce goals and lots of action, for the price of zero pound and zero pence you cannot go wrong!!

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