LILYWHITES PUT BLACKPOOL'S LIGHTS OUT

RHYL 4 (N Roberts 5, 13; J Reed 55; C Owen 90)
BLACKPOOL 1 (D'Agostino 12)
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY - AUG 2, 2008
TAKING on a sharp young Blackpool outfit containing four first team squad members, Rhyl produced their best performance of the pre-season yet at Belle Vue this afternoon.
Not only did the Lilywhites lay on a display of classy, passing football, they also notched up the goals which have been missing this summer so far.
Rhyl could not have made a better start as after just five minutes Mark Connolly's long throw was flicked on at the near post and Neil Roberts stooped to head home.
Blackpool hit back well and were unlucky in the 11th minute when Canadian Michael D'Agostino, currently on loan from Cheltenham, rattled the underside of the bar with a 25-yard rocket and Jake Hobbs spooned the rebound over.
A minute later, however, Stevie Ralston chipped over a free-kick from the left and D'Agostino glanced in the equaliser with the deftest of headers.
It was end-to-end at this stage and in the 13th minute Rhyl scored a truly fabulous goal.
Slick passing in midfield led to Gareth Owen feeding Josh Johnson on the right and his first time cross was headed in with perfect placement by Neil Roberts - made in Wrexham scored in Rhyl!
The highly impressive Gareth Owen nearly made it 3-1 when his thunderbolt from 25 yards was magnificently tipped past the post by Mark Halstead.
The hosts were well on top as Jamie Reed was denied from point blank range by Halstead and Connolly's free-kick dipped inches over.
Blackpool were restricted to breakaways but they went close when Dominic Merrella's long range screamer was brilliantly palmed away by Lee Kendall, flinging himself to his left.
Johnson then created a fine chance at the other end with some neat footwork but the inspired Halstead again produced the save.
Half-time: 2-1.
The Tangerines began the second half in promising fashion and Kendall only saw an angled Ralston attempt late but managed to scramble it away for a corner.
On 55 minutes, however, the Lilies notched their third. Gareth Owen's corner from the left was met by the head of Greg Strong and the ball came to Reed who only had a fraction of space but got his shot in and Billy McKenna on the goal-line could only help it into the roof of the net.
Gareth Owen had a 20-yarder deflected wide, then Kendall did well to thwart Merella as the Seasiders sought a second.
Marc Lloyd Williams came on for two-goal hero Roberts with 17 minutes left with a point to prove and he certainly was up for the task.
"Jiws" latched on to a Gareth Wilson pass and chipped Halstead but also cleared the bar, then the striker was in on goal but the keeper was able to rob him.
Lloyd Williams then showed some vintage class when he worked the ball on to his left foot but struck the post from 18 yards.
Carl Owen replaced Reed with just a minute to go and within seconds was on the scoresheet. This time it was the unselfish work of Lloyd Williams which set up the ex-Porthmadog striker whose shot proved too powerful for Halstead.
RHYL: Kendall, Connolly, C Roberts, Strong (Horan 66), O'Neill, Kelly (Wilson 54), Stones (Garside 69), G Owen, N Roberts (Lloyd Williams 73), Reed (C Owen 89), Johnson.
Attendance: 311.