July 2008 Archives

RHYL have qualified for Europe five seasons in succession and have played in all three available competitions - the Champions League, UEFA Cup and Intertoto Cup.
The Lilywhites have certainly had some memorable moments, not least in 2005/06 when their victory on away goals over FK Atlantas of Lithuania made them only the second Welsh Premier League team to win a European tie.
This season's 9-3 aggregate defeat against League of Ireland leaders Bohemian was probably the poorest display so far resultwise, although the Lilies did have their good spells in both legs and it needs to be appreciated that a new coaching team was at the helm and some players had priorities elsewhere.
But every team which has faced Rhyl so far in Europe, be they from Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Finland or the Emerald Isle, they certainly knew they'd been in a tie.
Here is a look at the Lilywhites' European record to date:

2004/05

July 14, 2004 - Champions League first qualifying round first leg
Skonto Riga (Latvia) 4 (Mihails Miholaps 2, Ignas Dedura, Aleksejs Visnakovs) Rhyl 0
Att: 1950
Rhyl: Paul Smith, Mark Powell, Jamie Brewerton (Greg Stones 80), Timmy Edwards, Robbie Wood (Stuart Graves 69), Michael Jackson (Michael Keegan), Gareth Wilson, Lee Atherton, Marc Limbert, Chris Adamson, Gary Powell. Unused subs: Chris McGinn, Craig Hogg, Mark Billingsley.

July 28, 2004 - Champions League first qualifying round second leg
Rhyl 1 (Gary Powell) Skonto Riga 3 (Ignas Dedura, Mihails Miholaps 2)
Att: 1812
Rhyl: Paul Smith, Mark Powell, Jamie Brewerton, Timmy Edwards, Robbie Wood (Michael Keegan 64), Michael Jackson (Greg Stones 82), Chris Adamson, Marc Limbert, Gareth Wilson, Lee Atherton, Gary Powell (Chris McGinn 85). Unused subs: Lee Hunt, Craig Hogg, Mark Billingsley.

Aggregate: 1-7.

2005/06

July 14, 2005 - UEFA Cup first qualifying round first leg
Rhyl 2 (Lee Hunt 2) FK Atlantas (Lithuania) 1 (Rimantas Zvingilas)
Att: 1570
Rhyl: Gerard McGuigan, George Horan, Greg Stones, Jamie Brewerton, Chris Adamson, Gareth Wilson (Gary Powell 86), Stuart Graves, Marc Limbert, Mark Powell, Lee Hunt (Alan Morgan 88), Andy Moran (Mike Thompson 89). Unused subs: Chris Taylor, Ian Bamford, Matthew Gatfield.

July 28, 2005 - UEFA Cup first qualifying round second leg
FK Atlantas 3 (Dainius Zernys pen, Aivaras Laurisas, Andrius Peterikis) Rhyl 2 (Greg Stones, Gary Powell)
Att: 1800
Rhyl: Gerard McGuigan, Chris Adamson, Mark Powell, George Horan, Greg Stones, Jamie Brewerton, Stuart Graves (Mark Connolly 90), Marc Limbert, Alan Morgan (Tommy Mutton 46), Gary Powell, Andy Moran. Unused subs: Chris Taylor, Matthew Gatfield, Andy Davies, Mike Thompson, Mark Billingsley.

Agg:4-4 - Rhyl win on away goals

Aug 11, 2005 - UEFA Cup second qualifying round first leg
Rhyl 0 Viking FK (Norway) 1 (Peter Kopteff 19)
Att: 1540
Rhyl: Gerard McGuigan, Jamie Brewerton, George Horan, Mark Powell, Greg Stones, Chris Adamson, Stuart Graves, Marc Limbert, Gareth Wilson, Lee Hunt, Andy Moran (Tommy Mutton 77). Unused subs: Mike Thompson, Gary Powell, Mark Connolly, Chris Taylor, Alan Morgan, Mark Billingsley.

Aug 25, 2005 - UEFA Cup second qualifying round second leg
Viking FK 2 (Tony Nhelko 2) Rhyl 1 (Chris Adamson)
Att: 3857
Rhyl: Gerard McGuigan, Mark Powell, George Horan, Greg Stones, Jamie Brewerton (Chris Taylor 83), Stuart Graves, Mark Connolly (Tommy Mutton 77), Chris Adamson, Gareth Wilson, Lee Hunt (Gary Powell 83), Andy Moran. Unused subs: Michael Walsh, Peter Hoy, Alan Morgan, Mark Billingsley.

Agg: 1-3.

2006/07

July 13, 2006 - UEFA Cup first qualifying round first leg
Rhyl 0 FK Suduva (Lithuania) 0
Att: 1479
Rhyl: Paul Whitfield, Mark Powell, George Horan, Timmy Edwards, Jamie Brewerton, Mark Connolly, Gareth Wilson, Conall Murtagh, Andy Moran (Alan Rafferty 76), Lee Hunt (Chris Sharp 66), Alex Hay. Unused subs: John Gann, Adrian Moody, Gary Powell, Dylan Owen, Ian Burrows.

July 27, 2006 - UEFA Cup first qualifying round second leg
FK Suduva 2 (Darius Maciulevicius pen, Tomas Mikuckis) Rhyl 1 (Andy Moran 80)
Att: 2500
Rhyl: Paul Whitfield, Jamie Brewerton, Timmy Edwards (Alex Hay 45), Mark Powell, George Horan, Stuart Graves, Connal Murtagh, Mark Connolly, Gareth Wilson, Andy Moran, Lee Hunt (Chris Sharp 63 - Marcus Orlik 71). Unused subs: Dylan Owen, Alan Rafferty, Adrian Moody, John Gann.

Agg:1-2.

2007/08

July 17, 2007 - UEFA Cup first qualifying round first leg
Rhyl 3 (Andy Moran, Lee Hunt, Craig Garside) FK Haka (Finland) 1 (Toni Lehtinen)
Att: 1787
Rhyl: John Gann, Mark Powell, Jamie Brewerton (Danny Desormeaux 90), Mark Connolly, George Horan, Carl Ruffer, Craig Garside, Jimmy Kelly, Lee Hunt (Dave Cameron 81), Andy Moran, Stuart Graves (Chris Roberts 77). Unused subs: Paul Whitfield, Matthew Holt, Craig Jones, Phil Coffin.

Aug 2, 2007 - UEFA Cup first qualifying round second leg
FK Haka 2 (Mikko Innanen, Valeri Popovich) Rhyl 0
Att: 1565
Rhyl: John Gann, Mark Powell (Matthew Holt 90), Chris Roberts, Mark Connolly, George Horan, Carl Ruffer, Craig Garside (Dave Cameron 75), Jimmy Kelly, Lee Hunt, Andy Moran, Stuart Graves. Unused subs: Phil Coffin, Danny Desormeaux, Craig Jones, Gareth Wilson, Paul Whitfield.

Agg:3-3 - Rhyl lost on away goals.

2008/09

June 21, 2008 - Intertoto Cup first round first leg
Bohemian (Ireland) 5 (Jason Byrne, Owen Heary, Killian Brennan pen, Neale Fenn, Glen Crowe) Rhyl 1 (Ken Oman og)
Att: 1342
Rhyl: Lee Kendall, Paul O'Neill, Jamie Brewerton, George Horan, Carl Ruffer, Craig Garside (Jimmy Kelly 73), Craig Jones (Matthew Holt 90), Gareth Wilson, Marc Lloyd Williams, Mark Connolly, Chris Roberts (Gary Powell 74). Unused subs: Greg Stones, John Gann, Tom Roberts.

June 28, 2008 - Intertoto Cup first round second leg
Rhyl 2 (Mark Connolly 2) Bohemian 4 (Stephen O'Donnell, Jason Byrne pen, Jason McGuinness, Harpal Singh).
Att: 1453
Rhyl: John Gann, Paul O'Neill, Jamie Brewerton, Carl Ruffer, George Horan, Craig Jones, Gareth Wilson, Mark Connolly (Craig Garside 80), Chris Roberts (Jimmy Kelly 63), Marc Lloyd Williams, Gary Powell. Unused subs: Greg Stones, Tom Roberts, Matthew Holt.

Agg: 3-9.

MATCH RECORD

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Played 2 Lost 2 Goals For 1 Goals Against 7
UEFA CUP
Played 8 Won 2 Drawn 1 Lost 5 Goals For 9 Goals Against 12
INTERTOTO CUP
Played 2 Lost 2 Goals For 3 Goals Against 9

OVERALL RECORD:
Played 12
Won 2
Drawn 1
Lost 9
Goals For 13
Goals Against 28

APPEARANCES (sub apps in brackets)
11 - James Brewerton
10 - Mark Powell, George Horan
9 - Gareth Wilson
8 - Andy Moran
7 (1) - Mark Connolly, Stuart Graves
7 - Lee Hunt
6 - Chris Adamson
5 - Marc Limbert
4 (2) - Greg Stones
4 - Timmy Edwards
4 (3) - Gary Powell
4 - Gerard McGuigan
4 - Carl Ruffer
3 (1) - Chris Roberts, Craig Garside
3 - John Gann
2 - Paul Smith, Robbie Wood, Michael Jackson, Lee Atherton, Paul Whitfield, Conall Murtagh, Paul O'Neill, Craig Jones, Marc Lloyd Williams, Jimmy Kelly (2).
1 - Alan Morgan (1), Alex Hay (1), Lee Kendall.
0 - subs apps only: Chris Sharp (2), Michael Keegan (2), Chris McGinn (1), Mike Thompson (1), Tommy Mutton (3), Chris Taylor (1), Alan Rafferty (1), Marcus Orlik (1), Danny Desormeaux (1), Dave Cameron (2). Matthew Holt (2).

GOALS (13)
3 - Lee Hunt
2 - Andy Moran, Gary Powell, Mark Connolly
1 - Greg Stones, Chris Adamson, Craig Garside, 1 own goal

RHYL have arranged a pre-season friendly next Tuesday (August 5) against Cymru Alliance club Llangefni Town at Belle Vue (kick-off 7.30pm).

MYNYDD ISA 2 RHYL RESERVES 2
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY - JULY 29, 2008
TWO Mike Roose goals secured a draw for the Reserves at Snowden Avenue in a game they should have won.
Manager Jon Stazicker was delighted at the way his Welsh Alliance team dominated their Cymru Alliance opponents for long periods.
Rhyl took the lead when following neat build up from the back, Keiron Evans burst down the wing and played the ball into Roose who turned sharply and was fouled in the box.
A penalty was awarded and Roose fired into the top corner.
Sam Brewerton had a shot well saved for the visitors before poor marking from a free-kick allowed Isa an equaliser.
Rhyl were soon back in the ascendency, though, Evans crossing, Roose dummying and Brewerton again denied by the keeper. Just before the break Scott Millington's free-kick found Roose on the edge of the area but his shot was cleared off the line. Half time: 1-1.
After the break Roose blasted just wide and Gareth Hughes was denied by a good save before the hosts took the lead when Jamie Jones could not hold a powerful shot and the rebound was converted.
Rhyl would not be denied, though, and that man Roose bent a classy free-kick into the top corner from 20 yards to level matters.
The final whistle blew on a pleasing 2-2 draw and Stazicker commented: "We gave away two soft goals, but showed plenty of strength and produced some great football.
"Just like at Llandyrnog, we dominated all the play apart from a 10-minute period in the first half. A very good performance from the lads and I thought we deserved a win."
RHYL RESERVES: Jamie Jones, Ben Bucknall, Tom Roberts, Chris Evans, Sean Morgan, Keiron Evans, James Hay, Jack Roberts, Scott Millington, Sam Brewerton, Mike Roose. Subs: Phil Graham, Tom Patel, Adam France, Gareth Hughes.

WITHIN the next week or so Rhyl's management team will decide which players are to make up their final squad for the 2008/09 season.
Allowing for the addition of a reserve goalkeeper the Lilywhites currently have a 19-man pool which will need trimming before the start of the campaign. That is likely to mean the departure of some established names, especially if more signings are on the way.
Speaking on Saturday after the Lilies' first victory of the post-Europe pre-season over a Wolves side containing three first team players, senior coach Allan Bickerstaff said difficult decisions will soon have to be made.
"It doesn't take a genius to work out we'll have some players who are surplus to requirements and we'll announce in the next week or two who they are," he added.
"The main thing is we want to be organised for when the season starts; we want everyone gelling as a team.
"We've not made wholesale changes this summer, but there are some new faces.
"Jimmy Kelly is like a new signing now coming back after injury and if you look down the middle at him, Neil Roberts, Gareth Owen and Matthew Williams you've got the spine of the team."
Bickerstaff was delighted with Saturday's result against a Wanderers outfit made up largely of reserve and academy players but also including Hungarian international midfielder Denes Rosa, Republic of Ireland cap Stephen Gleeson and Elliott Bennett, who had a stint at Bury last term.
Defender John Dunleavey headed the visitors in front after just four minutes, but Carl Owen equalised after 31 and Paul O'Neill nodded in the winner on 88.
"We've been stepping up the intensity in training and are looking for that in matches now," added the senior coach.
"We didn't have the best of starts; Lee Kendall was blocked off for the corner, which was clever on their part, and they scored with a free header which was disappointing, but we recovered well.
"We want them to play through the midfield, we've got the players who can do that, and we put together some good passing phases at times.
"Results in friendlies are not the be all and end all but today was the first time we'd scored in pre-season (since Europe) and it's important to establish winning ways.
"I was pleased with the back four; Greg Strong has settled in well, both on and off the field."
And what of Josh Johnson, the Trinidadian who was at Wrexham last season and played over three-quarters of the game against Wolves?
"Josh did well but we'll need another look at him before deciding anything," Bickerstaff added.
* This article will also appear in this week's Rhyl and Prestatyn Visitor.

THURSDAY will be a big day for Rhyl FC as the club's Academy is relaunched.
To mark the occasion coaches from the Liverpool Academy will be visiting Belle Vue. Between 1 and 3pm they will coach youngsters at Rhyl Leisure Centre then at 7pm the Liverpool coaches will play the Rhyl coaches in a special challenge match.
Before that the ground will stage football finals involving teams from the town formed during the Rhyl City Strategy project. A positive day of festive fun is assured - let's hope for great weather.
For more details contact the club on 01745 338327.

DEFENDER Ryan Edwards, who looked to be on the verge of signing for Rhyl last week, has decided to remain at Airbus UK Broughton.

RHYL 2 (C Owen 31, O'Neill 88)
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 1 (Dunleavey 4)
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY - JULY 26, 2008
PAUL O'Neill's 88th minute header secured Rhyl their first win of the post-Europe pre-season at the expense of a useful Wolves side containing three players with first team experience.
It benefited the Lilywhites that Wanderers sent a stronger team than expected to Belle Vue with Hungarian international midfielder Denes Rosa, Republic of Ireland cap Stephen Gleeson, who went to Stockport County on loan last season, and Elliott Bennett, who had a stint at Bury last term, all in the starting line up.
With new striker Matthew Williams and centre-half and skipper George Horan rested, Rhyl used 17 players on a baking hot afternoon.
Recent capture Greg Strong continued to impress in defence, Carl Owen produced his best display so far, proving a good target man in a potent first half link-up with Neil Roberts up front, Jimmy Kelly showed he is well and truly on the recovery trail with a busy midfield perfomance and Gareth Owen again oozed class in the centre.
Among the substitutes Jamie Reed caught the eye the most, giving Wolves' defence plenty of headaches in the last half hour, and Rhyl gave a debut to trialist Josh Johnson, who has been on Wrexham books and looked lively up front although he will need to show more it seems if he is to secure a contract.
Wolves were purposeful from the start and took a fourth minute lead when unmarked defender John Dunleavey headed in a Gleeson corner from the left.
Lilies keeper Lee Kendall called for the ball and missed it, but it later emerged he had been cannily blocked off by an opposing player.
Rhyl almost levelled two minutes later when Mark Connolly's long throw was flicked on by Neil Roberts, Carl Owen's volley was acrobatically palmed up in the air by keeper Richard Woolley, and Craig Jones was unable to convert the rebound.
The gold and blacks continued to threaten, Ashley Hemmings' shot being dragged wide before Gleeson's right footer was well held by Kendall and Rosa's left foot effort narrowly missed the target.
Gareth Owen then went close for the hosts when his 25-yarder was pushed behind for a corner via the post by Woolley.
On 31 minutes the home side equalised, and it is ironic that on a day where so much on the deck football was played, the goal came in very much route one fashion.
Kendall's long clearance took a massive bounce off the surface, beat the Wolves defence, and Carl Owen lobbed the advancing Woolley, who did get a touch to the ball but not a sufficient one to prevent a goal.
This perked Rhyl up and before the break Jones drove across the face of goal before Carl Owen's knockdown set up Johnson who miskicked completely 15 yards out.
Half-time: RHYL 1 WOLVES 1.
Early in the second period Bennett skinned Greg Stones down the right and his byeline cross was met by a first time shot from Hemmings, but there was Strong to apply the decisive block.
Rhyl could have taken the lead when Gareth Owen's pinpoint free-kick picked out an unmarked Neil Roberts who headed into the danger zone but O'Neill was unable to finish.
Wolves went near again on 63 minutes when Bennett's right foot attempt from the edge of the box came back off the post, then it became a case of several substitutions for the Lilywhites.
This gave the hosts fresh impetus and Connolly headed just over from a corner before Jones' 22-yard fizzer almost made it 2-1.
Then in the 88th minute a curling corner from the right by Chris Roberts was headed in by the leaping O'Neill, much to the delight of the home fans.
Still it was not over. Liam Hughes drilled inches wide for Wolves before in added time Rosa let fly from 20 yards but Kendall produced a fantastic tip over.
In a fiery conclusion, Gareth Wilson and Bennett squared up to one another in the centre circle after the Wolves man reacted to a strong tackle from his Rhyl opponent.
Players very rarely get sent off in friendlies, so referee Andy Harms recommended Wilson be substituted, but took no action against Elliott in what was a 50-50 exchange. The incident did not take the gloss of a superb game, though.
Probably a draw would have been a fair result but there would be no complaints from the Rhyl supporters who again witnessed quality fare as the process of getting a settled squad together gathers momentum.
This result ended a run of five successive defeats for the Lilies.
Wolves fielded some very promising youngsters who will no doubt be knocking on Mick McCarthy's first team door in the coming seasons.
Their supporters and press were also a great bunch, indeed among the friendliest I've ever met at Belle Vue and this typifies the majority of Wolverhampton people in general.
RHYL: Kendall, Connolly, Stones (C Roberts 57), Strong, O'Neill, Kelly (Garside 80), Jones, G Owen (Wilson 65 - G Owen 90), N Roberts (Lloyd Williams 74), C Owen (Reed 58), Johnson (Sharp 74).
MATCH FACTS
GOALS - Rhyl 2 Wolves 1.
ATTEMPTS - Rhyl 13 Wolves 10.
ON TARGET - Rhyl 7 Wolves 5.
CORNERS - Rhyl 8 Wolves 9.
MAN OF THE MATCH - Greg Strong (Rhyl).
ATTENDANCE - 484.

AN 18-man squad, a reserve goalkeeper still needed and the future of Michael White undecided.
What next for Rhyl? Are there more signings to come? Further departures? So far it has been six in and six out during the close season.
Word has it there will definitely be some more players released. There appears to be an abundance of midfielders and strikers and defensive and goalkeeping cover is needed.
Lilywhites Online will endeavour to bring you the latest news but for now here is the current state of play:
RHYL SQUAD
Goalkeeper:
Lee Kendall
Defenders:
Chris Roberts
Paul O'Neill
Greg Strong
George Horan
Midfield:
Gareth Wilson
Gareth Owen
Mark Connolly
Jimmy Kelly
Craig Garside
Greg Stones
Craig Jones
Forwards:
Neil Roberts
Matthew Williams
Marc Lloyd Williams
Chris Sharp
Jamie Reed
Carl Owen
Undecided:
Michael White

RHYL Fans Association's AGM which was scheduled for tonight (Monday) has been cancelled due to unforseen circumstances.
The meeting has now been rescheduled for Belle Vue next Monday, July 28, at 7.30pm.

LILYWHITES Online continues to attract close on 8,000 hits per month.
This makes it by far the most popular Trinity Mirror blog operating in the North Wales region.
It is among the top 40 most read TM blogs in Britain and remains in the top five in the North West, with only the likes of Liverpool Football Club (as one would expect) outscoring it on a regular basis.
It has been especially pleasing to see the high number of comments left by readers of late. Since Lilywhites Online started in March 2007, there have been 506 entries/stories and 437 comments.