The Silkmen signalled their intent after just 4 minutes, when Kyle Smyth was released through on goal, but was slightly off balance when he hit his shot, which ended up high over the bar. Then, on 7 minutes, great foraging on the touchline by James Hooper won possession of the ball, and he scampered clear and ran to the bye line, before pulling a ball back across the goal. It found its way to the unmarked Richie Foulkes on the edge of the 18 yard box, and he calmly chipped it into the top corner, to provide a first class finish to Hooper's great work.
Holywell threatened on 10 minutes, following their first corner, when a ball was delivered to the back post and headed back across goal, eluding Ben Jones, but fortunately Flint had not one but two players on sentry duty on the goal-line to clear the danger.
Shaun Tuck showed great purpose for the home side on 13 minutes, as he ran at the Flint defence, who will have regretted not getting a meaningful challenge in to prevent him getting inside the area. When John Davies did make what looked like a well timed challenge to win the ball, the referee awarded a penalty much to the dismay of the away side. Tuck stepped up to convert the awarded spot kick.
From the restart, Flint were back on the offensive, and barely a minute after being pegged back, were in front again with Foulkes' second of the afternoon. Smyth floated a lovely ball in from the left, and Foulkes met it with a perfectly judged header, sending the ball into the top corner and just beyond the grasp of Holywell custodian Keighan Jones, who despite his best efforts couldn't prevent the goal.
Flint thought they had extended their lead on 23 minutes, when Hooper's persistence nearly paid off, as he won possession of the ball on the edge of the box, before getting off a smart shot, only to be denied by an excellent full length save from Jones.
Two minutes later, and there was more spot kick drama, as Holywell were awarded their second penalty of the afternoon. This one appeared a bit more clear cut as Chris Li lunged in on Graeme Williams. Tuck once again assumed responsibility for the Wellmen. However, this time the outcome was very different as Ben Jones won the battle of wits between the two players, diving smartly down to his right, and grasping the ball firmly to his body to prevent any chance of a rebound.
Just before the break, Tuck went sprawling inside the Flint box once more, but any hopes of a third penalty award for the home side were quickly dashed as the referee waved play on, with the only thing that Tuck did receive for his efforts being a yellow card for simulation.
As was to expected in the second period, Holywell tried their best to put pressure on the Flint rearguard. But to be fair, the Flint back-line were resolute, and determined that there would be no further breach of their defences. So much so, that despite all of the possession for the home side, Ben Jones was relatively untroubled during the second 45 minutues, as his defenders did him proud, with John Davies, Matty Holt, Chris Roberts and Ieuan Hewitt all putting their bodies on the line for the cause, winning countless headers and getting in vital blocks and tackles when the occasion demanded. Even after suffering the loss of Hewitt with just under half an hour to play, as his exertions had taken their toll, Joe Culshaw came on and filled the void admirably. Meanwhile, skipper Stewart Carroll was probing away in the middle of the park, looking to release either Smyth or Hooper, should the chance present itself. Young Ryan Coney had been introduced from the bench early in the second half, and once again didn't look out of place, as he threw himself into the game with gusto.
On 53 minutes, Carroll curled a sublime ball right onto the head of Andy Brown, but although accurate his effort lacked the necessary power to seriously trouble Jones in the Holywell goal.
With 15 minutes to go, the industrious Hooper darted through the backline of Holywell, and was rounding the keeper when he looked to be bundled over. The referee, however, turned down what looked to be very strong penalty appeals, presumably deciding that Hooper had lost his footing of his own accord at the vital moment.
A minute later, Andy Brown shrugged off a challenge on the half way line, and built up a head of steam as he ran through towards goal. His progress was abruptly halted just outside the area however, when Gareth Sudlow hauled him down. As Sudlow was the last man, he was shown a straight red card for the offence, leaving Holywell a man down for the remainder of the match.
With just over 10 minutes left, Foulkes looked to have claimed his hat-trick, when he unleashed a great header but Jones acrobatically managed to push his effort over the bar to deny him.
In the 90th minute, Flint substitute Luke Tyson managed to intercept the ball, and shot from an almost impossibly tight angle, with the ball just finishing the wrong side of the far post from the visiting sides' point of view.
In the third minute of added on time, the icing was applied to Flint's festive derby cake, with a well worked goal. Once again Flint's defenders had successfully repelled an attack, and this time Coney played the ball into Brown who was positioned just inside the Holywell half. Despite the close attention of his marker, Brown flicked the ball into the path of Tyson who had raced out in support. Tyson still had plenty to do and a lot of ground to cover, but he kept his cool as he bore down on goal, before calmly slotting the ball home to ensure his side came away with a much deserved win.
An excellent team effort, where everyone of the Flint players who took to the pitch played their part in an entertaining match.
Line Ups :
Holywell Town - K. Jones, R. Ankers, S. Thomas (c), M. Hurdman (P.D. Williams 80), M. Harvey, G. Sudlow, P. Williams, G. Williams (S. Jones 80), P. Lloyd, S. Tuck, B. McGilloway (C. Littler 60). Unused subs - J. Jones, L. Embleton
Flint Town United - B. Jones, I. Hewitt (J. Culshaw 63), C. Roberts, C. Li (R. Coney 56), J. Davies, M. Holt, S. Carroll (c), R. Foulkes, J. Hooper (L. Tyson 87), A. Brown, K. Smyth. Unused Subs - A. Edgar, J. Palmer
Goalscorers :
Holywell Town - Shaun Tuck (13)
Flint Town United - Richie Foulkes (7, 14); Luke Tyson (90+3)
Cards :
Holywell Town - Yellow Cards : Shaun Tuck (44), Paul Williams (48); Red Cards : Gareth Sudlow (76).
Flint Town United - Yellow Cards : Richie Foulkes (48)
Flint MOM - Richie Foulkes (there were several worthy candidates but Foulkes' two well taken goals and contribution to the overall team ethic get him the nod)