Football: First league win boosts Llandudno Junction FC

Oct 2 2008 By Tim Channon

LLANDUDNO Junction will go into Saturday's Welsh Cup tie at home to Pwllheli with confidence boosted after gaining their first league victory of the season with a 2-0 success against Holywell Town last weekend.

Manager Shane Cartwright was delighted with the performance and said everybody was looking forward to Saturday's cup game - although the side will be without star new signing Paul Cassidy who is cup-tied.

"We put seven days in for Paul and are delighted that he fancied a new challenge; he's a great signing for us and it is just a pity that he isn't eligible to play on Saturday," said the manager.

Shane Cartwright also had special praise for young keeper Liam Ewing who made three fine saves in the space of 20 seconds last Saturday to ensure he kept a clean sheet against Holywell.

"The third of the three saves from a full-blooded drive was one of the best I've ever seen," reported the manager.

Dan Williams put Junction ahead from a through ball by Ben Thomas, and substitute Dewi Thomas got the second in the last minute from a Craig Williams pass.

"We also had two efforts cleared off the line and their keeper made some fine saves, so it was a well deserved win," added the manager.

GLAN CONWY are also in Welsh Cup action with a tough away tie at unbeaten Cymru Alliance side Lex XI, but go into the game in good heart after a 4-0 league win over Llanberis last weekend helped by a second half hat-trick from Ashley Smith to take his season’s goals tally into double figures.

Aled Stapleton had put The Cae Ffwt side in front at half-time and the win keeps them in the top four of the Design2Print Welsh Alliance with games in hand.

Conwy United had to settle for a point in a 1-1 draw at Llanllyfni after taking a 76th minute lead through Toby Jones.

Llanllyfni equalised a minute later through Paul Thomas.

Llanrwst United, hit by suspensions and forced to field a number of reserves, took a 61st minute lead at unbeaten Bethesda Athletic with a Bryn Jenkins goal, after a goalless first half.

But two Richard Owen goals in the space of three minutes saw Bethesda take the points 2-1 and make it six wins out of a six, with a lineman signalling the ball had crossed the line before being cleared for the winner.

Llanrwst are at home to Llanberis this Saturday, while Conwy travel to Nefyn United knowing that victory would take them into the top three with teams above them in Welsh Cup action.

More football reports and tables in this week’s Weekly News.