Didn't Go To Plan Vs Llan

Looking at the scoreline many may pressume that we were left well beaten by many's title favourites, who boast a squad of fast Welsh Premier and Cymru Alliance experience, however this was not the case. We simply lost due to human error, rub of the green and the oppositions ability to take their chances when presented to them.

The game started like any other season opener, with both teams looking to take make their mark, however his was not the case. It was a little frantic, a little scrappy and at times quite messy. After the first 15 mins both sides settled into their style of play. Llanrug looked to play the ball diagonally to Kev Lloyd or to the feet of Neil Thomas, where as Gwalchmai looked to play the ball out to Jack and Bennett on the flanks. The away side assisted by the wind were the team on top however our resolute defending limited their opportunities with John Jones, Alun & Allman all having to make last ditch tackles and interceptions. The visitors went close on 25 mins with a free kick from 25 yards, moments later a volley whistled wide of the top corner before a header from the centre half dropped wide of the post. On 35 minutes the deadlock was broken with the freakiest of goals, Llanrugs keeper kicked the ball long clearing our defence, Paul Evans in goal know as 'Wally' rushed out only to misjudge the flight and bounce of the ball as it bounced over him, his recovery unsuccessful as Kev Lloyd tapped in behind 0-1.

The objective was to keep things tight and take the one goal deficit into the break. However after some great play by Jon Williams a through ball split the visitors defence for Corey to home in on goal, rounding the keeper a sure equaliser was not to be as the ball made its way to the A55 over the bar, HT 0-1.

At half time we felt that we were more than still in the game with all three points still up for grabs, we looked to pounce early and put the visitors under pressure from the off.

Our mission was thwarted almost instantaneously as a clearance found the retreating winger in an off side position yards behind our back line. Being ruthless and in acres of space he homed in on our goal to calmly slot home to double their lead, 0-2 on 53 mins - despite our protests the goal stood, however neither the referees assistant or referee were able to explain which of our back four supposedly played the attacker on?!?!

Not ones to put our heads down we instead rallied together and stepped up a couple of gears, taking the game to the visitors. We hemmed them back into their own half limiting them to counter attack football and long balls for Kev Lloyd to chase. Our pressure was showing as they introduced fresh legs in midfield and experience in defence to try and shut up shop.

Despite all our pressure Lady Luck wasn't on our side. Kelvin had a goal line clearance following a melay in the box, Corey hit the cross bar with a curving shot to the top corner, Alun was blatantly fouled in the box followed by a rejected hand ball appeal, Allman had a shot saved well and our crosses continued to rain on the Llanrug box to no avail.

In the closing moments as we desperately searched for a foot hold in proceedings it was Kev Lloyd who once more beat the offside trap to home in on goal to secure his hat-trick and the 3points for the visitors.

Today Llanrug took their chances we didn't, we made errors and they capitalised on them. The Welsh alliance is a decent league therefore we must put this disappointment to bed and recover quickly. There's a long season ahead where there will be great days and there will also be bad, today we were perhaps unlucky but Tuesday is only a matter of days away to make amends.

On a strong positive note, young Darren played an excellent debut for the club at right back, the first of many!

Gwalchmai t**t of the match: Paul 'Wally' Evans
Gwalchmai man of the match: Geth Davies