Football: Llandudno ready for crunch clash with leaders Llangefni Town

Mar 4 2010

GRANT MONTGOMERY is adamant his Llandudno side will be going all out for a win when they visit Cymru Alliance League leaders Llangefni Town this Saturday (2.30pm).

Third-placed Tudno currently trail Cefni by 13 points, and despite having three games in hand on the Anglesey outfit joint manager Montgomery insists nothing but a victory will do at Talwrn Road.

"We’re definitely going there to win – a draw’s no use to us," said Montgomery (pictured inset).

"Llangefni are a steady side, but they don’t need to win the game and I’m guessing that’s how they’ll approach it.

"It’s up to us to unlock the second tightest defence in the league."

Beaten just twice in 19 league outings, Llandudno have drawn 0-0 in two previous encounters with the top pair Llangefni and Flint Town United, but now need a run of wins to make a statement in the title race.

"The situation with Caernarfon Town (currently suspended from football by the FAW) is up in the air, so we don’t know how that will affect things, but we’re trying to focus on just one game at a time," Montgomery added.

Midfielders Joe Morgan and Gareth Evans are set to return from suspension for the trip to Llangefni, but it is touch and go as to whether defender Neil Coverley will have recovered from a long-standing calf problem.

All three missed last Saturday’s 4-2 League Cup quarter-final win over Holyhead Hotspur at Maesdu Park, as did Ben Dews (illness) and Craig Hogg (personal commitment), but those two are also expected to be in the squad for the weekend crunch clash.

Tudno found Hotspur a tough nut to crack, eventually getting through to the semi-finals after extra time.

Minus five regulars, the Seasiders had to draft in three players from the reserves while joint bosses Montgomery and James Cornish named themselves among the substitutes.

Chris Saxon headed Hotspur in front early doors, but Llandudno levelled on 25 minutes when outstanding visiting keeper Mike Doutch made a double save before Gwyn Peters eventually tapped home.

The home side edged in front after 41 minutes when veteran Terry McBride fed the ball down the right to Alan Roberts whose whipped in cross was finished off by Danny Hughes.

A minute before the break, however, Saxon made the tie all square after Tudno failed to clear a corner.

Chances fell at both ends in the second half, Doutch denying Carding and Peters with fine stops.

Hotspur defenders Mike Edwards and Nick Dumbarton were also forced to clear efforts off the goal- line.

Near the end Mel McGinness could have won it for Hotspur, but failed to capitalise on a poor back pass as keeper Paul Whitfield showed his alertness.

A minute into extra time Carding brilliantly brought down a high ball from Lee Thomas and finished clinically to make it 3-2.

Tudno clinched it on 112 minutes when after going on a mazy run Carding’s shot was stopped by Doutch, but Thomas was first to convert the rebound.

"I felt the mixture of youth and experience in the team worked well," commented Montgomery. "Overall I thought we deserved the result and we’re delighted to be in the semi-finals of a cup we’ve never done that well in before."

Flint are also through while the other semi- finalists will emerge from this Saturday’s ties between Llanfairpwll and Guilsfield and Llangollen v Bethesda Athletic.