CONWY BOROUGH 2 - 2 CEFN DRUIDS

Conwy Borough played out a 2-2 draw with leaders Cefn Druids at Y Morfa on Saturday. Both sides will feel they had chances to secure all three points, but in truth a draw was probably a fair result.

The opening exchanges were cagey and showed just how important the fixture was to both sets of players. Scott Quiggley was a constant threat for the visitors on the break and despite the home side’s high pressing game; Druids were able to find their target man regularly.

Long shots were all Conwy could muster in the first 45 and it was the visitors who created the better openings. The impressive Louie Mackin first denied Quiggley, when the striker was one on one, before moments later denying Craig Garside at the back post with a fine reaction stop.

Druids’ pressure told in the 38th minute with Steve Blenkinsop tapping home a Quiggley cut back, to give his side the advantage at the break. Quiggley had powerfully driven towards the by line and had the composure to pick out his strike partner, leaving him with a simple finish inside the six yard box.

The home side responded brilliantly and looked a different side after the break. In the opening minute Ed Moss delivered a telling corner from the right and Gareth Sudlow powerfully headed towards goal, with Ellis Healing providing the final touch to get the ball over the line.

The equaliser gave the Tangerines real impetus and they continued to cause the visitors all manner of problems down the right wing through Ed Moss. Adam Magee, in goal for Druids, smartly denied Alan Bull from close range, with Kyle Wilson also seeing efforts blocked and going just wide in the opening ten minutes.

But against the run of play, Druids’ first foray into the Conwy half was rewarded with a second goal. After Borough failed to clear a corner, a fortuitous ricochet fell to Robbie James and he made no mistake from close range.

The Tangerines looked to hit back immediately and scored from another corner minutes later. Sudlow was first to the ball again and he made no mistake from a Phil Doran delivery. It was a second goal within a week for Sudlow, following his dramatic last minute winner against Flint Town.

For the remaining 25 minutes of the match Druids appeared content to soak up Conwy pressure and try to nick a goal on the break. Borough were much more fluid in attack and continued to ask questions of the league’s meanest defence.

The visitors did have a couple of decent chances in the closing minutes but Mackin was again up to the task, after Conwy had sacrificed a defender for a striker as they went in search of a winner.

But it was not to be and Borough remain in third position, 10 points behind Cefn Druids. The Tangerines still have 2 games in hand on their title rivals and will be looking to close that gap away to Rhydymwyn next Saturday.