Football: Llandudno Junction unlucky at home

Oct 27 2011

LLANDUDNO JUNCTION gave Holyhead Hotspur a good contest for the second weekend running, but just like in their previous meeting the Railwaymen ended up suffering a home defeat.

Having lost 2-0 to the Harbourmen in the FAW Trophy the previous Saturday, Junction came out all guns blazing in pursuit of revenge in this Welsh Alliance Division One encounter,  and a Joel Hewitt header from a Jamie Jones cross almost gave them an early lead.

Hotspur responded, however, and on nine minutes edged ahead.

A corner from the left by Mel McGinness was cleared to the edge of the box where Mike Edwards fired home a perfectly-placed shot.

It was 2-0 after 13 minutes when Tom Nathan Edwards met a corner with his head and Alex Jones was there to nod in.

Ben Heald was well-placed to save from Junction’s Jamie Jones before the Railwaymen halved the deficit on 26 minutes when Dwyfor Williams netted with a fine free-kick from just outside the area.

Like all good sides, however, Holyhead managed to reply instantly when Mike Edwards broke down the left and his cross to the far post was headed back across the keeper by Mel McGinness, who celebrated his 14th goal of the season.

Home keeper Joe Welsh denied Asa Thomas twice and Chris Saxon shot just wide after good play from Dan McGinness and Mel McGinness, but Junction were not finished and just before the break Danny Jones' shot deflected past Heald following a short corner to make it 3-2 at the turnaround.

Early in the second stanza Kenleigh Owen and Jon Peris Jones had efforts blocked, while Jamie Jones saw his strike well smothered by Hotspur defender Richard Owen.

The next goal was going to prove crucial, and it was end-to-end before Charlie Kemp's header from a Luke Fountain delivery looked a goal all the way but Heald pulled off a fabulous tip over.

Then on 79 minutes Hotspur all but sealed the spoils when Alex Jones rose highest to head in McGinness' corner from the left.

That knocked the stuffing out of the hosts and in the closing minutes Holyhead substitute Dion Donohue, a recent signing from Bodedern Athletic, fired just past the post after a fine run.

Luke Roberts and Richard Owen also went close before the visitors were denied a blatant penalty when Mel McGinness was brought down in the area, but Hotspur ran out victors and took over top spot.

Junction travel to Caernarfon Wanderers  for a league game this Saturday (2.30pm)