Buckley Town 1, Llanfairpwll 0

Jan 24 2003 By David Triggs, Flintshire Chronicle Series

MAYBE Buckley should end their search for a high-prof ile midfield maestro and turn their attentions to luring a penalty box poacher to Globe Way.

The Flintshire side's forwards missed a host of chances at the Globe on Saturday and struggled to find a way past Llanfairpwll's ageing goalkeeper and captain, Richard Partington.

They had to wait until the 88thminute for the breakthrough, substitute Darren Williams finishing off some good work from Ryan Harden with a neat finish from inside the six-yard box.

The hard-earned victory extended Buckley's unbeaten run to eight matches and capped a week which had seen the club table offers for ex-England midfield stars Paul Gascoigne and Michael Thomas.

Neither player was signed in time to pull on the red and white shirt on Saturday, but negotiations to bring a bigname player to the Globe are ongoing.

And while goalscoring hasn't exactly been a problem for Buckley so far this season, there would surely be no complaints from manager Simon Sedgwick if the big-name player in question was a centre-forward.

It's no exaggeration to say lowly Llanfairpwll should have been 4-0 down inside the first eight minutes.

And but for some poor finishing, they would have been.

Midf ielder Mike Williams f ired in Town's first warning shot in the fourth minute, capping a weaving run with a dipping 20-yarder that flew just over Partington's crossbar.

A low cross from Julian Pepper saw Harden beat Partington at the far post but the midfielder's effort was ruled out for a debatable offside.

A minute later Pepper's shot was blocked at point blank range by the Llanfairpwll keeper and on eight minutes Partington dived at the feet of Andy Neal after the full-back was played clean through by Tim Nunnerley.

The chances dried up for a while after that, although Buckley enjoyed the greater share of possession.

The visitors grew in confidence as the match progressed and were the better side for long periods of the second-half.

But Buckley continued to carve out the more clear-cut chances, with Pepper instrumental in their attacking play.

And, with only two minutes remaining, Harden cut inside from the left and fed Williams, a 38th-minute substitute for injury victim Nunnerley.

The former Cefn United striker brought Harden's pass under control and with his second touch poked the ball past Partington.

Said a relieved Sedgwick: 'I told the players at half-time that if we could keep a clean sheet, we would win the game. I was right in the end, but was starting to get a bit worried the longer the game went on!' BUCKLEY: Turner, Neal, Hanson, Bryce (Renshaw 74), Lovatt, Lewis, G Hinchcliffe, Harden, Nunnerley (M Williams 38), Pepper, M Williams (Harrison 74). Referee: J Coultard (Mold)