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Gresford took the game to Holywell from the off and from a Phil Jones throw Alan Williams set Danny Purdie up for a shot that was blocked by the Holywell defence. Gresford went ahead after five minutes after Jon Ratcliffe was impeded down the right flank, Phil Jones taking the resulting free kick which found the back of the net from forty yards after being missed in a packed penalty area by both attackers and defenders. Holywell were almost level within minutes, a corner from the left being palmed over the crossbar by Gresford keeper Gareth Rowland. Gresford then won a corner which was deflected to Simon Holloway but his fifteen yard shot was well wide. In the next attack Holywell won a freekick on the edge of the Gresford penalty area which was fired well over the bar. At this stage the game was end to end with both sides looking likely to score. Jon Ratcliffe was the next to try his luck and the Holywell keeper had to be at his best to palm the ball onto the cross bar and out for a corner. Holywell then spurned an excellent chance to equalise as one of their strikers failed to find the net when well placed. Mike Gronnow then nearly made it two nil to Gresford but his header from a Phil Jones free kick also failed to trouble the home keeper. With the game into first half stoppage time Danny Purdie scored Gresford second after a fine run down the right he beat two defender and placed the ball under the advancing keeper.

HALF TIME: HOLYWELL TOWN 0 GRESFORD ATHLEIC 2

Gresford forced a corner within minutes of the restart and had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down as Alan Williams's header appeared to be handled on the line. Shaun Williams then broke up a Holywell attack and fed Phil Jones he raced down the left flank and crossed to Simon Holloway who could only fire straight at the keeper when well placed. Holywell tried to force their way into an equaliser but the Gresford defence well marshaled by centre back Mike Gronnow and the outstanding Kevin Todd were in no mood to give anything away. Jon Ratcliffe then had a great chip shot saved by the over worked home keeper and from the resulting corner Ratcliffe put Gresford three up as he volley home from the edge of the penalty area. Holywell then made a triple substitution to try and get back into the game, pushing three men up front. But Todd and the Gresford defence remained in control and only once was Rowland in the Gresford goal forced to make a save when he had to push a goal bound shot round the post. A great move involving Danny Purdie and Jon Ratcliffe should have produced a fourth goal for Gresford but Holloway was unable to convert after a great ball from Jon Ratcliffe. Another excellent ball from Ratcliffe put Holloway on goal but this time he was pulled back by a home defender for what looked a certain penalty that was not given much to the Holywell defenders amazement. Gresford finished the game on the attack and a freekick from Ratcliffe went straight at the keeper for the last action of the game

FINAL SCORE: HOLYWELL TOWN 0 GRESFORD ATHLETIC 3

TEAM. 1. Gareth Rowland (8) 2. Shaun Williams (8) 3. Chris Newman (7) 4. KEVIN TODD(9) 5. Mike Gronnow (8) 6. Alan Williams (7) 7. Simon Holloway (7) 8. Phil Jones (7) 9. Danny Purdie (7) 10. Jon Ratcliffe (8) 11. Richard Bean (8) Subs:- Carl Andrews (for Danny Purdie) 14. Dave Lloyd (for Phil Jones) 15. Matt Williams (for Alan Williams)

MOM KEVIN TODD