Match Report - Ruthin Town

Corwen’s final game of the decade saw them make the trip to local rivals Ruthin Town in front of a crowd of almost 400.

It was the home side that had the first goal scoring opportunity of the game, as in the fourth minute Dylan made a great point blank save, with the rebound falling to a Ruthin player, who saw his effort headed off the line.

At the Ruthin end Corwen’s Matthew Williams found the bottom corner of the net with a fine finish beyond Ryan Goldston, but he was unable to celebrate as the offside flag had been raised.

In the twenty-fourth minute Dafydd Evans looped a high ball into the Corwen box, which was perfectly weighted for Gwion Owen to run on to, but he could only put the ball over the bar after breaking free of the Corwen defence.

A couple of minutes later the ball was played to Llyr Morris in the Corwen penalty area, but he was prevented from getting a shot away after being tackled, which saw the ball go through to William Owen, who saw his shot go wide of the target.

Former Ruthin Town player Tom Williams collected the ball and ran at goal, leaving two defenders in his wake and getting into an area where he could see the whites of keeper Ryan Goldston’s eyes, but he could only send his shot narrowly wide of the target.

Ruthin thought that they had taken the lead when the ball dropped nicely for Llyr Morris, who was quickly met by Mathew Williams and Harry Pooler, but despite the company he was able to find the back of the net; however the goal was disallowed after he was penalised for a foul.

In the closing stages of the half Tom Williams was tackled in the Ruthin penalty area, with the loose ball going through to Eilir Edwards, whose cross had just too much pace on it for two oncoming Corwen players.

In stoppage time Dylan was able to pull off another save to keep the scores level and saw the rebound fall to Gwydion Ifan, who saw his shot blocked.

Half Time

Early in the second half Corwen’s Joe Williams saw his header coming agonisingly close to going in as it ran along the goal line. Shortly after this Joe followed this up with a shot; however Ryan Goldston just about got to the ball on the ground.

Penalty
The turning point in the game came on the hour mark when Llyr Morris was brought down in the penalty area, resulting in the award of a penalty kick, which Llyr took and he broke the deadlock by sending former Ruthin Town keeper Dylan Jones the wrong way.

Ruthin shortly followed this by a shot from outside the box from Gwion Owen, whose effort went tamely wide of the far post.

Goal
The victory was all but sealed in the eighty-fifth minute as the ball was played into a crowded Corwen box, where Craig Wilkinson’s close range shot just about crept in near the post.

Goal
Two minutes later the result was well and truly rubber stamped after Llyr Morris found the back of the net with a good finish.

In stoppage time Tom Williams went in search of a consolation goal, but he could only send his shot over the crossbar.

Full Time

The final whistle brought to an end a tie was more even than the score line suggests, with the real turning point in the game being the award of the penalty kick

Gavin Billington