Llanuwchllyn 3 Rhostyllen 4

After a few weeks off due to bad weather, Rhostyllen were back in action away at Llanuwchllyn in the North East Wales Challenge Cup Round One.
On a boggy pitch, football was going to be difficult but the away team started the game in the best possible way, with 2 minutes on the clock Rhostyllen took the lead. A long ball from defence found James Jones on the right wing, after holding the ball up he played it back to Dean Jones at right back who crossed it in for Steven Jones who flicked the ball around a defender for Kevin Roberts to shoot, his miss-hit shot went across the goal and a scramble saw the keeper and defender clash and Olie Allman picked up the pieces with a poachers finish from 3 yards.
With 11 minutes gone Llanuwchllyn struck back, the home team's midfield had acres of space in the middle and with time on the ball, the ball was played through for their striker who passed Dean Jones easily to finish in the bottom left corner.
Rhostyllen were back in front within 45 seconds, from the kick off Darren Hignett played a decent long ball over the top for James Jones who sprinted down the line before putting a good low cross into the 6 yard box, Steven Jones, Lewis Clamp and a defender all attacked the ball and it was Lewis Clamp who managed to turn it in off the defender to give his side the lead.
Llanuwchllyn continued to battle and got back level terms with 25 minutes gone. With what looked like an obvious foul throw, Rhostyllen stopped to appeal but the hosts didn't, a smart turn on the edge of the box saw a long range shot fired at goal, Josh Jones got behind it but wasn't able to keep hold of it and it was followed in well by the home team whose striker made 2-2.
Two minutes later and The Village went behind, James Selley in his own half tried to play a ball back towards his own goal but the pass was poorly under hit and went perfectly into the path of the Llanuwchllyn striker who was clean through and smashed the ball in to make it 3-2 to the home side.
With 36 minutes gone and the game becoming scrappy in difficult conditions, it took a moment of brilliance to get Rhostyllen level, a ball played into the Llanuwchllyn box was headed out only as far as Dean Jones whose effort from 35 yards, was hit first time and flew into the top corner, a definite contender for goal of the season!
With 6 goals going in, the half time whistle went and both teams had struggled to play in what were now horrendous conditions.
The second half started and Rhostyllen got the only goal of the half with 47 minutes on the clock. Dean Jones on the right found Olie Allman out wide, Allman with a man marking him tightly, turned brilliantly and left the defender standing as he advanced goalwards, on the edge of the box his shot beat the keeper to make it 4-3 to The Village. With the pitch deteriorating it made the majority of the second half a battle without many chances, in the last 10 minutes the home team threw everything at Rhostyllen who defended well. Apart from a Drew Wickens goal line clearance, Rhostyllen were able to keep the hosts out and took a 4-3 victory which sets up an away trip to Brynford on Saturday in Round Two.