JIWS OFF THE MARC
RHYL 2 (Lloyd Williams 9; Jones 35)
HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY 0
WITH the strength of squad now at their disposal Rhyl are looking well set to become serious contenders for silverware as the business end of the season is reached.
Players of the calibre of Andy Moran, Paul O'Neill and Craig Garside did not even get a look in today as John Hulse continued to ring the changes to keep the pot boiling at Belle Vue.
With top scorer Lee Hunt suspended, Dave Cameron was given a rare start, partnering Marc Lloyd Williams up front, while Lilywhites supporters welcomed the return of prodigal son Greg Stones following two seasons away gaining full-time experience.
And that latter trio all combined to score the opening goal after just nine minutes.
Stones dinked the ball into the area, Cameron headed on and Lloyd Williams poached his first goal for Rhyl and the 272nd of his illustrious Welsh Premier career with a left foot finish from eight yards.
Lloyd Williams could have had another when he raced on to a Cameron through ball, but keeper Lee Idzi sped out to deny him.
Stones so nearly marked his comeback with a goal when a Matthew Holt cross fell fortuitously at his feet, but he struck the post from two yards out.
Rhyl were producing some great flowing football and on 35 minutes it paid dividends.
Slick passing spread the ball from one flank to the other and Craig Jones latched on to a sublime Stones back-heel before making it 2-0 with a deflected shot.
Haverfordwest had their moments and went close before the break when Nick Woodrow set up Luke Bowen for a firm 18-yard shot which Lee Kendall did well to push away.
The start of the second half saw County really sprightly and when Neil Thomas found Woodrow the striker was very unlucky to see his chip come back off the bar. Dogged defending blocked follow-up shots from Tom Ramasut and Woodrow.
Rhyl were denied a blatant penalty when Cameron was pushed over by Gareth Elliot right in front of referee Kevin Parry.
Soon after a handball offence by Haver in the box also went unpunished, although to even things up Rhyl's Jones was lucky to get away with hands in the first half and Chris Roberts appeared to send Mike Hartley sprawling in the area, but the officials waved play on.
Lloyd Williams turned sharply in the box but was denied by Idzi, who then was not so comfortable with another "Jiws" shot, but no-one was following up for the rebound.
Cameron chipped over after Roberts picked out substitute Chris Sharp with a cracking ball, then late on Sharp and fellow replacement Michael White missed opportunities, but the end scoreline was a fair one.
RHYL (with performance marks)
Lee Kendall: Delighted to keep clean sheet against old club. Did everything asked of him - 8.
Matthew Holt: No frills, defended well and was always willing to join the attack down right - 7.
Chris Roberts: Wholehearted and committed, some great tackles and good passing - 8.
Mark Connolly: Usual bundle of energy although did not use the ball as well as usual - 7.
George Horan: Solid from first whistle till last, little got past him - 7.
Carl Ruffer: Calm and composed, good comeback after illness - 7.
Craig Jones: His speed had Haverfordwest in knots at times, getting on the scoresheet regularly now too - 7.
Greg Stones: Great comeback, had a hand in both goals, unlucky not to score and was a class act on the ball. Faded slightly in second half but this was his first game back in a long while - 9 (MOM).
Dave Cameron: Did a good job as a link player, still lacks decisiveness in front of goal at times - 7.
Marc Lloyd Williams: Took his goal well and on another day would have had a hat-trick. A real asset to the side - 8.
Stuart Graves: Did the simple things well and put in an unending amount of spade work, really on his game at the moment - 8.
SUBS:
Chris Sharp (for Lloyd Williams 73): Busy and threatening straight away. Could do with a goal.
Michael White (for Cameron 86): Lively in the short spell he was on the park.
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