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HUWS GRAY FITLOCK
CYMRU ALLIANCE
Lex X1 0-0 Gresford Athletic
Saturday 22nd. October
It was not what the Doctor ordered – a depleted back four going into our derby encounter against arch rivals LEX XI. Mike Gronnow had wedding commitments and Kevin Todd was still on the injury list so in came for his first start was Paul ‘Keeno' Jones at right back, Gary Robinson partnered Matt Williams in the heart of the defence and Kevin Hope who is still learning his trade occupied the other fullback berth.
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HUWS GRAY-FITLOCK
CYMRU ALLIANCE
Saturday 22nd. October
Buckley Town |
6-0 |
Queens Park |
Flint Town Utd |
2-5 |
Ruthin Town |
Guilsfield |
1-1 |
Bala Town |
Halkyn Utd |
P-P |
Llandyrnog |
Holyhead Hotspur |
0-4 |
Bodedern |
Lex X1 |
1-1 |
Gresford Athletic |
Llandudno |
3-0 |
Holywell Town |
Llangefni Town |
1-0 |
Llanfair PG |
Penrhyncoch |
0-2 |
Glantraeth |
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The game didn't really live up to its top billing but with so many key players missing I think most of would have settled for a point before the game started. It was the classic game of two halves with Gresford Athletic ultra cautious playing a second string back four and LEX certainly the more dominant in the first 45 minutes. LEX took the lead on 11 minutes when a long range shot from Timmy Steele deceived Mike Price and the ball somehow wriggled under his body. Steele and Joe Garner both had chances to double their account but Gresford held out. Both Kevin and Paul were anxious to impress but were so keen not to slip up, they rarely provided the outlet ball to get our attacks moving but to their credit, defensively they did everything else asked of them and both got better as the game went on.
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Gresford clearly were not there to make up the numbers and they had the lions share of the second half with Gavin Pierce denying Alan Williams and Craig Williams.Slap, back on home turf of yester-year and Shaun Williams were impeccable and they bossed the midfield but whilst we won the physical battle we lacked guile and creation for the front runners. We almost went further behind when Robbie Nevitt hit the Gresford cross bar from way out and Keeno scrambled the rebound to safety.
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HALF TIME
LEX X1 1-0 GRESFORD ATHLETIIC
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Wyn limped off, Kevin tired a little so in a tactical switch in a late sortie, on came Ian Mathias and young Jonny Taylor and we started to create and LEX at that time were under a bit of pressure. |
Pricey made a finger tip save from Joe Garner but then Gresford grabbed a deserved equaliser 12 minutes from time when Danny Purdie unleashed a real pile driver from 35 yards out which gave Pierce little chance. With time almost up, Newman replaced a limping Phil Jones and in stoppage time, an even firmer struck shot from Purdie was tipped over the bar. LEX have scored more goals than anyone else in the Cymru Alliance so it is a real credit to our defence that they were one of the few teams this season to come away with a point as well as restrict there attack to just the one goal when they have been averaging four goals a game on home soil, |
FINAL SCORE
Lex X1 1 Gresford Athletic 1
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GRESFORD ATHLETIC
1. Mike Price (7) 2. Paul Jones (7) 3. Kevin Hope (7) 4. Matt Williams (8) 5. Gary Robinson (9) 6. Alan Williams (8) 7. Phil Jones (7) 8. Shaun Williams (8) 9. Craig Williams (7) 10. 10. Danny Purdie (8) 11. Wyn Jones (8) Subs: 12. Ian Matthias(for Kevin Hope) 14. Jon Taylor (for Wyn Jones) 15. Chris Newman
MOM GARY ROBINSON
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LEX X1
1. Gavin Pierce 2. Richie McNeil 3. Gavin Moloney 4. Warren Duckett 5. Steve Roberts 6. Gareth Williams 7. Robbie Nevitt 8. Martin Plant 9. Tim Steel 10. Mark Williams 11. Joe Garner Subs: 12. Darren Hignett 14. Craig Thomas 15. Matt Levey
OFFICIALS: Ref:- M. Bridges
ASSISTANTS: C. Craven & DM. Morris |
