Match Report - Penycae

The hectic start to the season continued as Corwen made the trip to Afoneitha Road to take on Penycae in what is their third game in eight days. The scorching hot weather continued for this game, with water breaks taking place in each half.

After the coin toss it was decided that Corwen would play up the slope on the pitch in the first half. Early on in the game Morgan Daykin collected the ball in his own D before running the length of the field, but he saw his eventual shot cut out by the Penycae defence.

Scott Evans looked to get onto the score sheet from an angled free kick; however he could only send his effort over the bar.

Corwen goalkeeper Rhys Jones was called into action in the tenth minute when Nicky Williams unleashed a low shot at goal, but the Corwen number one was able to dive low and make save. Rhys was called into action fifteen minutes later as the away side gave the ball away, allowing former Corwen player Liam Sklenar to get a shot away, but Rhys was able to make a save.

Five minutes before the half time interval the home side collected the ball in their own half and put a quick move together, which came to an end when Ben Duffy saw his shot go over Rhys, but he hit the post rather than the back of the net.

A minute later Corwen’s clean sheet really came under threat, as a Penycae player was able to head the ball towards goal; however Benjamin Wilson Davies was on hand to head the ball away and shortly afterwards Corwen cleared another shot off the line.

In the last action of the half it looked as if Corwen were going to enter the interval in the lead as Morgan Daykin lined up a shot, which looked in all the away, but pinged wide of the far post.

Half Time

Shortly after the halftime break Daniel Holland was able to send a shot at the Corwen goal, which was tipped over the bar by Rhys Jones.

Goal

A minute later Corwen were awarded a free kick for handball, which was taken by Henry Evans who floated the ball into the path of his cousin Scott Evans, who ran with the ball before placing it in to the far top corner of the net to open the scoring.

Penycae were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position five minutes into the half, which Nicky Williams took and he was able to curl the ball around the wall, but also narrowly wide of the target.

Corwen looked to double their advantage as Delwyn Jones crossed the ball into Scott Evans’s path, who could only send his effort wide of the target from close range.

As the game entered the final quarter of an hour a free kick from near the touchline was floated into the Corwen box, where it was met by a diving header from a Penycae player, who saw his effort go wide of the post.

Henry Evans looked to get his first goal in senior football as he got beyond Penycae’s Josh Millington, but he was unable to get enough power in his resulting shot, allowing goalkeeper Benjamin Darlington to gather the ball easily.

Goal

In the eighty-second minute the visitors gave the ball away, allowing Ben Duffy to get through on goal, who put the ball around the advancing Rhys Jones and into the far corner of the net.

The visitors looked to restore their lead when Morgan Daykin saw his shot saved by Benjamin Darlington, who made it a double save when he saved for Kian Harrison shortly afterwards.

In the sixth minute of stoppage time the away side were given an opportunity to take all the spoils as they were awarded a free kick in a great location; however Scott Evans could only send the ball tamely over the bar.

Gavin Billington