What can one say about this game?
Still under strength-ed due to injuries and player unavailability we went to Nefyn with 14 players (Dave Baston and Gareth Barker returning to the squad from injuries. We had Arwel Owen Under 18's keeper in the squad for the 1st time, Arwel is the son of ex Menai Bridge Tigers keeper Meirion Owen. From the 14 players available we didn't have one centre half, so Dale Owens (full back) and Dave Roberts (centre Mid) playing centre backs.
Playing against the wind 1st half on a perfect playing surface. I would say hands down best playing surface in the league. We knew it was going to be a hard 45mins. From the off the boys played some brilliant football keeping the ball on the floor and Matt Jarvis and Tim Evans working hard down the left hand side.
On 14 mins a corner from Tim Evans was cleared out to about 25 yards out and without giving it a second though Owen Vaughan hit a volley that the keeper couldnt keep hold of and the ball finished in the back of the net. We continued to create chances with Owain Roberts and Guy Hughes going close to extending our lead. Andy Wannop was winning all the long balls and was working his socks off.
Nefyn started to use more of the long ball with the wind and scored 3 goals before half time.
Nefyn Utd 3 - 1 Menai Bridge Tigers
Within 20 seconds of the start of the second half Andy Wannop, stole the ball of the defender and placed the ball passed the keeper only to see it roll the wrong side of the post. In a mad 2 minutes Nefyn scored another two goals.
On 53 mins saw Dave Baston replaced by Gareth Barker.
55 mins - A throw in on the right taken by Noah Brett and Andy Wannop flicked the ball on to Gareth Barker.... with a drop of the shoulder and a rocket of a half volley the ball looped over the keeper into the back of the net (Gaz's 1st touch).
58 mins - some brilliant work between Tim Evans and Andy Wannop put Gaz Barker in down the left and with a Cruyff turn (or as Gaz said a Lance Williams turn) he sent two defenders into the next field.. a pinpoint cross to the edge of the 6 yard box and Guy Hughes made no mistake.... Back in the game???!!!! we continued to work hard.
63 mins Nefyn made it 6-3
65 mins Matt Jarvis was replaced by Elliott Parry-Jones
In the 74th mins we lost Gareth Barker with a recurrence of the hamstring injury that kept him out of the last 4 games.
77 mins 7 - 3 Nefyn
83 mins 8 - 3 Nefyn
We continued to push for more goals and in the last 5 mins we scored a couple of screamers.
84 mins Owain Roberts had the ball out wide on the right and cut inside to beat to players and smashed a 30 yarder into the top bins...
88 mins not to be outdone by Ows .. Tim Evans decided that it was his turn to take on the defence and from 25 yards Tim placed a perfectly placed screamer into the bottom corner of the net.
Final Score
Nefyn Utd 8 - 5 Menai Bridge Tigers
If you were to ask anyone there about the game they would have said it was defo value for money .... Onto Wednesday now away to Waunfawr.
Menai Bridge Tigers Scorers
Owen Vaughan
Gareth Barker
Guy Hughes
Owain Roberts
Tim Evans
Menai Bridge Tigers Man of the Match
Guy Hughes
# | Team | Pl | Pts |
1. | Bodedern Athletic | 22 | 56 |
2. | Aberffraw | 22 | 54 |
3. | Bontnewydd | 22 | 50 |
4. | Bro Goronwy | 22 | 38 |
5. | Menai Bridge Tigers | 22 | 34 |
6. | Nefyn United | 22 | 34 |
7. | Llanystumdwy | 22 | 31 |