Football: Llandudno FC remain confident over title bid

Mar 11 2010

LLANDUDNO joint-manager Grant Montgomery believes his team are still in the Cymru Alliance League title race despite only picking up a 1-1 draw at leaders Llangefni Town on Saturday.

It could have been worse had Montgomery himself not poached an injury time equaliser which ensured the Seasiders got what they deserved.

This Saturday sees Tudno entertain Holyhead Hotspur, a team they have defeated three times already this season although all games have been close.

Llandudno were also due to play host to Bethesda Athletic last night (Wednesday).

The weekend draw at Talwrn Road was made all the more commendable by the fact Tudno were without a number of key regulars. Defender Neil Coverley and midfielder Alan Roberts were injured, while centre half Craig Hogg, Wyn Williams and top scorer Lee Thomas were all suspended for being dismissed in the midweek NWCFA Challenge Cup victory over Glan Conwy.

To make matters worse, Llandudno lost young winger Luke Carding in the first half with a serious facial injury sustained in an aerial clash.

"I’d probably have taken a draw before the game considering the team we had to put out," said Montgomery, who had earlier targeted the game as a must-win encounter.

"We put them under a lot of pressure in the second half and I always felt the goal was going to come, although when it got so late I started to wonder if it wasn’t going to be our day.

"But I’ve got to be happy with the draw, though, as it still keeps us well in the title hunt."

However, Montgomery had altogether different feelings about the Carding incident.

"It was very upsetting and I’m pretty angry about it," he stormed. "It’s not right that a young lad starting out on his football career should suffer an injury like that. He’s been released from hospital, but he’s going to need major treatment for the damage caused."

The weekend outcome leaves Llandudno 13 points behind the leading two Llangefni and Flint Town United with three games in hand.

Llangefni began well and took the lead on 15 minutes when Ywain Gwynedd fired home during a melee following a corner.

This looked like the kickstart Cefni wanted, but Llandudno defended with passion and physically changed the game to making it narrow and forcing gaps as the hosts played a lot deeper than usual.

Proceedings took place between the 18-yard boxes and neither keeper was unduly troubled, but many fouls went unpunished whilst niggly technical infringements were dealt with harshly.

It was much the same in the second period, the returning Liam Shanahan holding on to a couple of long shots while Tudno keeper Paul Whitfield grasped a stinging 30-yarder from Marc Evans and Danny Glyn Roberts sliced just wide.

As the game went deep into injury time, it looked like the islanders would hold on for the points, but then a miscued Danny Hughes shot was diverted home Montgomery, ensuring it ended all square.

This was no more than Tudno deserved as they came with a game plan, stuck to it and certainly on the second half showing, merited a share of the spoils.