Gordon at the double as Gaerwen pick up 3 points

Gaerwen 2-0 Penmaenmawr Phoenix

Last Saturday (24th March) Gaerwen welcomed Gwynedd based side Penmaenmawr Phoenix to Long Groes for a Welsh Alliance Division Two fixture. With only two points separating the team both were eager to walk away with maximum points.

Gaerwen started the game well creating a couple of half chances and pegging Penmaenmawr back. The visitors first opportunity came on 8 minutes as a cross was fizzed in hard and low but the Phoenix striker could keep his effort down. Just two minutes later some good work by Liam Morris down the Gaerwen left saw him find his strike partner Connor Gordon in the box, Gordon's first effort was blocked but he made no mistake with the rebound 1-0. Just two minutes later it should have been 2-0, some lovely midfield play saw Chris Bennett one on one with the goalkeeper, his effort was saved and then two efforts were cleared off the line with the goal gaping. However, Penmaenmawr were punished again on 15 minutes, a mazy run by Steve Jones saw him find Connor Gordon on the 6 yard box who made no mistake to score his second of the game. The home side really had their tales up at this point and would have gone 3-0 would it not have been for an unbelievable save from the Penmaenmawr goalkeeper who tipped Morris' effort round the post.

Gaerwen should have had a penalty on 30 minutes as a good delivery from Arwel Williams was looking like it was going to find Steve Jones at the back post but Jones was dragged back at the last second and fell to the floor, the referee waiving away the home sides appeal. A couple of half chances fell to Chris Bennett, Liam Morris and Connor Gordon before the end of the first half but the score remained 2-0 at the interval.

All credit to the away side they came out firing in the second half, pinning Gaerwen back for a good 20 minute period. Albeit this, Gwyndaf Owen was nothing more than a spectator, having not made a save of note during the 65 minutes of the game. The home side were looking dangerous on the break but that final ball or first touch was just not good enough to score the third of the game to take the match away from the tenacious Gwynedd side. Phoenix kept pushing forward in the last 15 minutes and with 10 minutes to play hit the crossbar with a thunderous volley from 20 yards out. However, that was as close as they would come to get back into the game. With 5 minutes to play a Phoenix striker was given his marching orders for foul play and the game drew to close with the home side claiming all three points with a 2-0 victory.