The Wellmen welcomed Ruthin Town to the Bartons North Wales Stadium for round two of the Welsh Cup and after the disappointment of losing last week to Flint Mountain, the Wellmen looked to get back to winning ways.

The match got underway and disaster struck for the Wellmen after only three minutes as the visitors took the lead. Llyr Morris given plenty of space and he ran forward and fired past the oncoming Shaun Pearson.

A few moments later, the Wellmen very nearly equalised, Jamie Breese ran forward and his shot was saved brilliantly by Daniel Goldston in the Ruthin Town goal. The Wellman had plenty of possession but were unable to test the Ruthin keeper and midway through the half, Town had an excellent chance as Gareth Evans fed the ball through to Jake Cook, he cut inside and fired goalwards but his shot went inches wide of the post, moments later Danny Andrews also went close after he created some space and he shoot across the face of goal but the ball went inches wide.

With half an hour played the visitors had a great chance, Sam Jones bursting forward and his shot was going in but the Wellman defence clear the ball off the line. A few minutes later another great move by the Wellman saw Mark Winslade beat his marker, he laid the ball off to Danny Andrews and his dangerous cross to the fire post, only needed a touch off the Holywell player which would have resulted in a goal.

The goal the Wellman deserved came on 34 minutes. Gareth Evans burst forward down the left. He cut inside the box and lay the ball across the goal area where the ball was dummied by Jamie Breese and left to Jake Cooke, who saw his first effort blocked but he picked up the rebound and fired home.

The goal lifted the Wellman and with a few minute remaining of the half, Breese again went close as he controlled the ball well and turned and shot towards goal which saw the Ruthin Town goalkeeper pull off a fine one handed save to knock the ball over the crossbar. With a minute left of the half, Winslade again went close as he beat his marker and fired in a fierce shot but again the keeper saved well ,

The Second Half got underway and a couple of minutes into the half, Breese had a shot which was blocked for a corner and then moments later, Myles Hart puts in a great ball into the box where Morgan Murray is up well but his header goes over the crossbar.

It was all Holywell at the moment and with 55 minutes played Miles Hart made a long clearance from his own half the ball was picked up by Breese who runs forward but is shot across the goal area and flew past the far post. With just over an hour played, the Wellmen won a free kick on the edge of the box. Morgan Murray stepped up to take it but his curling shot goes wide and a few minutes later, Jake Cooke is through on goal but Ruthin defender Matty Williams brings him down on the edge of the box which saw him see his second yellow card and the centre half was sent off. The resulting free kick is taken by Danny Andrews but his shot hits the Ruthin wall and his cleared to safety.

Midway through the second half, visitors have an excellent chance to double their lead, Gwion Evans is put through on goal and in a one on one position with Sean Pearson, but the Holywell goalkeeper pulls off a brilliant save to keep the scores at 1-1. With a quarter of an hour of the half remaining Jamie Breese again burst forward again and fired in a fierce shot which Goldston did well to parry the ball out and from the resulting corner Danny Sullivan‘s header goes over the crossbar.

As the game entered the final few minutes, Andrews is through on goal but the Ruthin defence clear the ball and in the 90th minute Macauley Taylor‘s header hits the crossbar, and falls to Gareth Evans who follows it up but his shot has cleared up the line. The match ended all square and went to penalty shoot out to decide the outcome of the game. The penalty shootout did not go the Wellmen’s way and fell to defeat which meant we are knocked out of this season competition.

The Wellman must pick themselves up ahead of next Friday is big league encounter against leaders Airbus UK Broughton.

Holywell Town FC

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