After defeat in the NEWFA Challenge Cup against Plas Madoc, Halkyn & Flint Mountain had a week off before the start of the new league season. Manager Rob Marshall gave a debut to recently signed goalkeeper Adam Leigh, whilst captain Jake Williams was welcomed back into the side, alongside new striker Aled Reece.
The Mountain flew out of the traps and could has led inside the first minute. Jack Aitken got through on goal, but his shot was wide of the post. The Mountain settled and pressed for an opener. After several chances had gone begging, the home side eventually took the lead through David Walkiewicz. He had fellow striker Jack Aitken to thank, as Aitken chased down a ball over the top. As the Lex defender retreated towards goal, Aitken stole the ball and knocked it into the path of Walkiewicz, who was ideally placed in front of goal. He controlled the ball before stroking it into the bottom corner.
In the second half, Aled Reece had an early chance to extend the lead, but his chance narrowly went wide of the post. Just a couple of minutes later, Lex had themselves a penalty. With the player going away from goal, Adam Bailey attempted to tackle, but brought down the Lex player and the referee pointed to the spot. Adam Leigh, on his debut in the Mountain goal, guessed right and made a fantastic save to deny the away side. However, four minutes later, Leigh played a pass towards his defence that went straight to the Lex striker, and he simply slotted the ball past Leigh to level the score.
As the half progressed, the away side began to assert themselves and with fifteen minutes to go, took the lead. Getting down the Mountain left, a cross into the box was turned into his own net by Pete Martin. With five to go, things got worse for Flint Mountain when left back Adam Bailey was shown his marching orders for a second yellow card. Lex then put the icing on the cake with a third goal. From a long range free kick, Adam Leigh looked to have saved the goalbound effort, but it skipped out of his hands and into the back of the net.
Next up, Halkyn & Flint Mountain make the short midweek trip to Hawarden to take on Hawarden Rangers on Wednesday evening, looking to immediately put right this result.