Football: Llanrwst United FC hope to mount title challenge

Jan 1 2009 By Tim Channon

LLANRWST UNITED have moved into the top three of the Design2Print Welsh Alliance after their 2-0 derby win over Glan Conwy last Saturday and manager Chris Williams says he hasn't given up hope of challenging for the title.

The Gwydir Park side, who are one four clubs from the league to apply for promotion to the Cymru Alliance next season, are unbeaten in their last four leagues games and have lost only one of their last seven.

The manager says: "I know Bethesda are a long way clear at the top, but there is still a lot of games to be played and we haven't given up hope of catching them."

Llanrwst should have been playing Bethesda in the Barritt Cup this Saturday but the game has been postponed due Bethesda's appeal against the tie being switched to Gwydir Park following two postponements at Parc Meurig.

The tie will be re-arranged for a later date after the League executive committee have heard Bethesda's appeal.

"We had to switch a cup tie to Conwy earlier in the season after two postponements at Gwydir Park so I can't see that Bethesda have any grounds for an appeal. It means we are now left without a game when we already have a backlog of fixtures," added Chris Williams.

Llanrwst took an early lead in last Saturday's game against Glan Conwy when they broke quickly out of defence for Gwion Schiavone, who is home from university, to score with a right foot shot.

Schiavone had to switch from right wing to full-back when Phil Snape was forced out of the game following a clash of heads, but did well in an unfamiliar role.

Glan Conwy had a chance to equalise from the penalty spot, but Shaun Shannon saw his spot kick well saved by Llanrwst keeper Paul Roberts and Llanrwst then secured victory five minutes from the end when Deian Howarth collected a pass from Lee Allen and pulled the ball back for Bryn Jenkins to score the second goal.

"Glan Conwy had a lot of possession but only really threatened us from set pieces, and in the end I thought it was a very good team performance from us," added the manager.