On a heavy pitch both teams started well with some good attacking football. Holyhead took the lead in the twenty second minutes when a corner kick was mishandled by Gareth Rowland and the ball forced over the line by Curt Williams. Rowland made amends with two good saves as Holyhead forced Gresford onto the back foot. On forty minutes Rowland was in action again, this time his long kick found Craig Williams who was fouled as he forced his way into the penalty area and Phil Jones converted the penalty kick
HALF TIME: Gresford Athletic 1 Holyhead Hotspur 1
Gresford stated the second half brightly with Danny Purdie having the first real chance of the half, but his headed was easily caught my Mike Douch. Holyhead then forced Rowland (pictured)into another save, blocking with his feet to thwart Curt Williams. With both defences restricting chances Holyhead were awarded a dubious penalty when substitute Josh Page was adjudged to have fouled Dean Garmie, a decision that nobody thought was correct. Page was then sent off in farcical circumstances. This being the turning point of the match as Rowland guessed the right way to smother James Parry's penalty kick. As usually happens the team with ten men pull up their sleeves and produce a better performance and on eighty five minutes Craig Williams was again fouled in the penalty area to give Gresford a second penalty which Phil Jones converted for his second goal of the game. Douch in the Holyhead goal was then dismissed for lashing the ball at Jones to add to Holyhead's woe. With two minutes remaining Jones turned provider as he found Craig Williams with a long ball down the left which Williams converted with an excellent chip over stand in keeper Parry.
Final score: Gresford Athletic 3 Holyhead Hotspur 1
Team 1. Gareth Rowland 2. Danny Brown 3. Kevin Hope 4. Steve Halliwell 5. Max Peate 6. Alan Williams 7. Phil Jones 8. Shaun Williams 9. Craig Williams 10. Danny Purdie 11. Eddie Morris-Jones Subs: 12. Kevin Todd 14. Josh Page 15. Owen Roberts