BELLE VUE STALEMATE

RHYL 0
ABERYSTWYTH TOWN 0
WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE - SEP 27, 2008
THE longest running jinx in Welsh football continued as Rhyl made it 18 league matches unbeaten against Aberystwyth, but the Lilywhites will have been frustrated to drop another two points which cost them the leadership of the Welsh Premier.
Mark Connolly so nearly won this game for the 10-man Lilies in the 90th minute when his overhead kick came back off the post.
A deciding goal would have been just reward for the hosts who generally dominated despite having Neil Roberts red-carded on 53 minutes for a bad challenge on Aneurin Thomas.
Aber defended stoutly, though, and will have been delighted to come away with a result which knocked Rhyl off top spot.
Town's impressive keeper Dave Roberts superbly tipped over a fourth minute Connolly free-kick then denied Jamie Reed from close range before somehow keeping out a Josh Johnson rocket.
Aber's only serious threat of the first half came when Geoff Kellaway broke clear and was thwarted by the onrushing Lee Kendall. From the resulting Chris Venables corner, Graham Evans' header missed by a fraction.
The hosts had another opening right on half time when Reed flicked on Connolly's throw, but Craig Jones miscued his volley.
After striker Roberts saw red in the second half, moments later Aber manager Brian Coyne was sent to the stands by Irish exchange referee Padraig Sutton for dissent following an altercation between the two benches over the sending off incident.
Reed and Greg Stones fluffed good opportunities before on 74 minutes George Horan volleyed home but was controversially adjudged offside. Seriously bad decision.
Substitute Sion Evans went close with a header for the visitors from his first touch, then a minute from time Connolly's free-kick missed by inches.
The game was into injury time when Carl Owen headed on Stones' cross and Connolly's overhead came back off the upright.
Referee Sutton had a nightmare. He seemed to be incapable of spotting a handball - Rhyl had at least three decent shouts for a penalty - the most blatant one from Thomas before Roberts' sending off.
Moments later Roberts was guilty of a nasty challenge from behind on Thomas and was rightly sent for an early bath.
Aber defended well enough, but even when they had a man advantage they did not show any sense of adventure, save for a couple of fast counter attacks Teams coming to Belle Vue to frustrate has been a common occurrence in recent seasons and will surely be even more in evidence this term.
However, Rhyl have the players to counter this, it is just that today they failed to do so. Reed lacked his usual sharpness and Roberts had not made a great impact before his dismissal.
Johnson did not have one of his better days and even Gareth Owen's passing was awry at times. Connolly always looked Rhyl's best hope for a goal at set pieces, but it was not to be.
Aber's keeper Roberts certainly saved the day for them.
RHYL: Kendall, Connolly, Stones, Horan, Strong, G Owen, Kelly (D Williams 83), Johnson, Roberts, Reed (C Owen 67), Jones.
MATCH FACTS
GOALS - Rhyl 0 Aber 0
ATTEMPTS - Rhyl 13 Aber 7
ON TARGET - Rhyl 6 Aber 3
CORNERS - Rhyl 11 Aber 2
YELLOW CARDS - Rhyl 2 Aber 1
RED CARDS - Rhyl 1 Aber 0
ATTENDANCE - 573
LILYWHITES ONLINE MAN OF THE MATCH
Craig Jones (Rhyl)
Never stopped probing, looked the most likely to unlock Aber's defence. Worth a run in the side now.