MIGHTY WHITE SLICES 'EM APART

With midfielders Craig Garside (injured) and Gareth Wilson (suspended) out, manager John Hulse decided to give White an opportunity from the start - and it proved to be a smart move.
Twice in the opening minutes, the North Wales-born Kiwi drilled dangerous balls across the Caersws six-yard box which only needed a touch to bring a goal.
The deadlock was not surprisingly broken on 11 minutes when White sent a fantastic ball over the top of the Bluebirds defence, Hunt beat the offside trap and ran on to score his first goal in four matches.
Three minutes later, though, a superbly slick move brought a home equaliser, Neil Mitchell firing home according to the PA announcer although I thought it was Graham Evans.
This was a mere blip for Rhyl as they roared back on to the attack, Mark Connolly driving just wide twice before White had the Caersws defence in knots with a run down the left and his low effort missed the goal by inches.
On 31 minutes came Rhyl's second, Craig Jones sending in a great cross from the right and White arrived on cue to smash home on the half-volley - a beauty!
White was a fraction away again after a fine run and shot before keeper Andy Mulliner punched clear from Hunt, but the ball only reached Jones who chipped goalwards, a defender cleared off the line, and Hunt was there to poach his 100th career goal for the Lilies.
The mid-Walians did their best to respond, Evans just off target with a diving header, before Jamie Haynes looked set to score, but a last gasp challenge by Connolly diverted his effort over.
Then in first half injury time came the daftest in a series of daft decisions the officials concocted between them on this rainy, snowy, bleak afternoon.
Connolly drove a free-kick into the six-yard box from the left, Hunt touched the ball home for his hat-trick, but the linesman raised his flag and the goal was disallowed- why? Guesses on a postcard please to the Kevin Parry Institute for Whistleblowing Gaffes....
The second half was relentless as Rhyl piled on the pressure.
It should have been 4-1 on 50 minutes when a lovely ball by White over the defence released Hunt whose volley missed the target.
Goal number four was just around the corner, though, Paul O'Neill lifting a high delivery into the box from the right, Andy Moran controlled, dummied a defender, then beautifully lifted the ball into the roof of the net over Mulliner.
Hunt was through one-on-one but missed, then Andy Davies and substitute Sean Butler went near as Caersws sought a consolation.
Rhyl showed them how to score on 68 minutes when Connolly crossed from the right and Jones volleyed home in style to make it 5-1.
To their credit, the hosts never stopped trying, and a deep cross from Mitchell was volleyed in at the back post by Haynes.
But number six arrived on 73 minutes, great trickery from substitute Chris Sharp on the left setting up Connolly to drive in a beauty from 20 yards.
After that it could and should have been double figures, replacements Dave Cameron and Mitchell Booth both missing good opportunities.
Finally, two minutes into injury time, Sharp seemed to hold on the ball for an eternity in the box - it appeared like it was glued to his foot - until he passed to Jones who opened the door for Connolly to lash in his second and Rhyl's seventh.
Following the criticism over the lack of a single shot on target against Aberystwyth seven days earlier, in this game Rhyl had 18 goal attempts and 12 either found the net or worked the keeper.
With leaders Llanelli shockingly losing at home to bottom side Porthmadog, and the clubs around them, Carmarthen Town, Welshpool and Bangor all dropping points, it was a good afternoon for the Lilywhites.
Team: Kendall 7, Jones 8, O'Neill 8, Connolly 8, Horan 7, Holt 7, Ruffer 8, WHITE 9, Hunt 8, Moran 7, Graves 8. Subs: Sharp 7, Cameron n/a, Booth n/a.
Attendance: 327.