Mountain Sweep Aside Hapless Hawkesbury

Two goals from assistant manager Rob Marshall and four from Jimmy McGlone help Mountain to beat a struggling Hawkesbury Bell at Elfed High School

After the obvious disappointment of defeat in midweek in the Horace Wynne Cup semi final, Flint Mountain looked to get straight back to winning ways with a short trip to Buckley to face struggling Hawkesbury Bell. Following the semi final, the Mountain were faced with a selection crisis, caused by both injuries and personal commitments. This meant that both manager Rob Thelwell and assistant manager Rob Marshall made the starting line up. Andy Probert needed to fill in for injured goalkeeper Ryan Roberts, whilst Scott Forrester, George Jones and Dylan Roberts all returned to the starting line up. There was also a space on the substitutes bench for club secretary Robert Moore.

Flint Mountain started well and immediately began to show their intention to play a short passing game. It didn't take long for the deadlock to be broken, as Jimmy McGlone got onto the scoresheet. A corner from Dylan Roberts was met by a leaping head from McGlone, who directed the ball towards the goal. Despite the best efforts to clear the ball away, the referee confirmed that the ball crossed the line and the goal stood. McGlone quickly doubled his tally from another set piece as he curled a low free kick around the wall and past the helpless goalkeeper.

The confidence was flowing through the side, as assistant manager Rob Marshall delivered on his pre-match promise to score goals. McGlone turned provider for his strike partner, as his through ball found Marshall, who made no mistake with a low effort, for his first goal for the club. Just two minutes later, Flint Mountain broke down the right, before a ball into the box was met by the arriving Karl Griffiths, who bagged his first for the club, with another low strike.

As the domination continued, there was still time for Jimmy McGlone to grab a first half hat trick. Andy Probert, covering in goal, launched a long ball forward, which was missed by the Hawkesbury defender. McGlone raced onto the ball and got into the penalty area, before dribbling past his marker and firing into the bottom corner.

At half time, manager Rob Thelwell gave himself a deserved rest, substituting himself for Karl Leighton, in a straight swap at left back. It didn't take long for Flint Mountain to return to their goalscoring threats of the first half, as Dylan Roberts latched onto a cross from Jimmy McGlone with a powerful effort which flew into the top corner. The relentless attacks on the Hawkesbury goal showed no sign of waning and Rob Marshall, who had earlier spurned a golden opportunity to add to his tally, did finally get his second of the game. As Hawkesbury attempted to clear another Mountain attack, the ball reached Marshall in the penalty area, and his powerful shot inside the area gave the goalkeeper no chance.

Jimmy McGlone continued to terrorise the Hawkesbury defence, and with twenty minutes remaining, he grabbed his fourth of the game. After beating the last man from another Andy Probert long ball forward, McGlone simply knocked the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper and into the bottom corner. With fifteen minutes remaining, assistant manager Marshall earned his rest and was replaced by club secretary Robert Moore.

Moore was quickly involved in the action after Hawkesbury failed to head the ball away from danger. With his first touch, Moore was able to cushion the ball back across goal and into the path of Dylan Roberts, whose venomous shot found the top corner. The rest of the game fizzled out, with Hawkesbury failing to test Probert in the Mountain goal at any point and protecting a precious clean sheet for Flint Mountain.

Next up for Flint Mountain is the final home game of the season, as title chasing rivals Sychdyn are the opposition. Sychdyn have dropped points recently in their title quest and coupled with Flint Mountain's return to form today, the game should prove to be a fascinating spectacle.

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