Llanrwst United 0-3 Holywell Town

Holywell Town travelled to Llanrwst knowing that a point would be enough to clinch the Welsh Alliance League Championship and started brightly as Graeme Williams had a shot go inches wide of Paul Roberts’ post after great work and cross by Sam Jones down the right hand side of the pitch. Paul Williams then had a good run down the left and his cross was cleared before the home side had their first effort on goal as Jamie Turner had a shot go over Paul Turner’s cross bar. Matty Roberts then put in a great corner and Matty Harvey got his head to the ball but his effort went over the bar.

A few minutes later however, Town were ahead. Sam Jones broke through and he hit the ball with power and Paul Roberts in the Llanrwst goal got a touch to it but the power in the shot was enough to carry the ball over the line, despite Barry Owen’s attempt to clear the ball. The Wellmen were one up and on their way! Roberts again put in a great cross and this time John Leonard’s header was well saved before Luke Tyson crossed the ball in from the other end and it reached Paul Williams but the ball took a bobble and came off Williams’ leg but someone hit the post and came back out before being cleared down field by Leighton Griffiths. Williams was again in the thick of the action a few minutes later, and his run into the box saw him brought down and the referee pointed to the spot and Sam Jones made no mistake and put Town 2 up with around 36 minutes on the clock.

Llanrwst had a mountain to climb now but they never gave up and had a couple of efforts as the half came to a close as Paul Cassidy had a shot which flew over Paul Turners goal and into the field before Jamie Turner again had an effort sail over the bar before the last action of the half saw Town’s Matty Harvey head the ball to the hands of Roberts from a good cross by Tyson.

The Second half got underway and Town went in search of the killer third goal. Jones was causing a threat at every opportunity and had a couple of half chances cleared before Graeme Williams had an effort blocked at the edge of the box. The Wellmen didn’t have too long to wait for the goal as Sam Jones completed his hat trick. A good break from midfield saw Sam Jones run with the ball and as he ran towards goal, Roberts came out to narrow the angle, Jones rounded him and a defender had got back to challenge him but Jones was too strong and rolled the ball into the empty net. The goal started mass celebration by the Wellmen’s supporters who had made the trip and with the clock ticking away, they knew the League was ours!!

Paul Roberts then made a great one handed save to deny Stuart Hayes a goal before Roberts again denied Hayes in a one on one situation. Town then won a free kick on the left hand side and Sam Jones’ kick was met by Hayes whose header was saved yet again by Roberts. Lee Emberton then put in a great cross along the floor and Graeme Williams hit the ball first time and his curling shot was saved brilliantly by Roberts with a flying save to prevent Town getting a 4th goal for the evening. In the dying minutes, a strong run by Matty Harvey down the right saw him cross the ball towards Hayes, who had a deft touch of the ball and the ball ran across the goal line before going out past the post for a goal kick.

The referee then blew for full time and Holywell Town were champions of the Welsh Alliance League for 2014/15. The players and supporters alike celebrated as bottles of champagne were sprayed all over everyone to mark scenes of celebration amongst the players. It has been a great season and the club have achieved what they set out to do at the beginning of the season and to gain promotion back to the Welsh Alliance. Now the small matter of Saturday’s FAW Trophy final against Penrhyndeudraeth as Town aim to do the double! Roll on Saturday.....