Football: Penmaenmawr pipped by Blaenau

Dec 16 2010

PENMAENMAWR PHOENIX 3 BLAENAU FFESTINIOG AMATEURS 4

THIS Lock Stock Welsh Alliance Division Two fixture was switched to Penmaenmawr as there were doubts if Cae Clyd would be fit enough to play on as the thaw set in.

The Amateurs must be pleased with that decision as they came out winners in seven- goal match which quite frankly could have gone either way.

Blaenau found themselves behind early on even though they had dominated the first few minutes without really testing home keeper Llion Hughes and then Shane Jones scored from the host side’s first real attack on nine minutes.

The scorer then had a glorious chance to double his team’s lead but his final effort went over the bar.

Ffestiniog kept plugging away and on 27 minutes Iwan Roberts equalised with a well-taken goal. There were chances at both ends with Tom Woolway going close for the Quarrymen before the home outfit were presented with a goal just before the break.

A left wing corner-kick was met at the far post by John Crowl whose header slipped through keeper Carwyn Ephraim’s grasp and into the net to give Pen a 2-1 lead at the interval.

Phoenix looked dangerous going forward but their defence was suspect and five minutes after the break David Copsey took full advantage to level with a clinical finish.

Play ebbed from one end to the other with Iwan Roberts going near for the Amateurs and Sam Beaumont’s right wing crosses causing problems for the visitors’ defence, but his fellow forwards did not take full advantage of the chances that came their way.

Midway through the half Pen were made to pay as Iwan Roberts’ free-kick on the right wing nestled in the opposite top corner to put Blaenau in front for the first time.

With only a goal lead the Amateurs looked vulnerable and they were made to pay on 76 minutes when Richard Roberts made it 3-3 with a header from a free-kick.

Now it was really anybody’s match and the home side’s substitute Tom Pinkerton could and should have scored but from only a few yards out his attempt went wide.

With six minutes remaining pressure by Copsey on a long clearance by Ephraim forced defender Scott Williams to head the ball into his own net for Blaenau’s winner.

Pen remain bottom of Division Two and have a massive task on their hands at leaders Caernarfon Wanderers this Saturday.