Ruthin Town 3 v 0 Corwen
JD Cymru North – 28/12/2019
Our last fixture of 2019 saw us welcome near neighbours Corwen FC to the Memorial Playing Fields, this fixture was the third home game in succession which, given the recent wet weather, demonstrated how hard our grounds maintenance team have worked to deliver excellent playing surfaces for all three games.
A great turnout was expected and, thanks in part to a creditable travelling contingent from up the A494, the attendance was an excellent 396.
The team walked out onto the pitch accompanied by mascots from our junior section and referee Sion Peter Davies got the match underway. It was Llyr Morris who had the first goal scoring opportunity of the game, but former Ruthin keeper Dylan Jones made a great save, the rebound fell to a Ruthin player but the effort was headed off the line by a Corwen defender.
Corwen did find the net soon after that but their fans were disappointed to see that the referee’s assistant had raised her flag as the Corwen forward was offside when he received the ball.
Halfway through the first half the excellent Dafydd Evans lofted a pass into the Corwen box, which was perfectly weighted for Gwion Owen to run on to, but Gwis’ could only put the ball over the bar after breaking free of the Corwen defence. The home side continued to threaten to break the deadlock and a couple of minutes after Gwion’s chance the ball was played to Llyr Morris in the Corwen area, but he was prevented from getting his shot away after being well tackled, the ball fell to Will Owen, who sent his shot narrowly wide of the target.
Corwen should have taken the lead though when former Ruthin Town player Tom Williams picked up the ball and broke free of the home defence but, with Ruthin keeper Ryan Goldston beaten, he sent his shot narrowly wide of the target.
Ruthin thought that they had taken the lead just as half time approached when the ball dropped nicely for Llyr who despatched a crisp left footed shot into the net but the home fans joy was short lived as the referee disallowed the goal due to a foul on the defender.
Half Time - Ruthin 0 Corwen 0
Ruthin improved after the break and they began to play a little more quality football as Corwen’s efforts in the first half seemed to have drained them as they appeared to tire. The deadlock was broken on the hour mark when Osian was brought down in the penalty area, Llyr dispatched the resulting spot kick confidently giving Dylan Jones no chance. The home side gained in confidence from taking the lead and shortly after a shot from outside the box from Gwion went just wide of the far post.
The game was made virtually safe after eighty-five minute as the ball was played into a crowded Corwen box, the evergreen Craig Wilkinson managed to get to the ball first and he slid home from close range. Two minutes later the result was well and truly put beyond doubt after Llyr capitalised on a defensive mix up and coolly found the back of the net with a good finish to notch his second of the game and fourteenth of the season.
Corwen nearly grabbed a consolation goal in injury time, but Tom Williams sent his shot over the bar.
Many thanks to our match sponsor’s Dragon Drilling and also match ball sponsor Paul Edwards.