DEFEAT FOR RESERVES

PWLLHELI 3 (Thomas 23, Courlander 32, G Jones 77)
RHYL RESERVES 1 (K Evans)
WELSH ALLIANCE LEAGUE - NOVEMBER 29, 2008
MORE away day blues for Rhyl whose lead at the top of the Welsh Alliance was cut to two points with second-placed Bethesda Athletic - who have six games in hand - winning at Nefyn United.
Potential title contenders Pwllheli almost took an early lead when Gwyn Jones met a Dylan Thomas cross with a first time shot which Paul Pritchard brilliantly tipped over.
Rhyl responded when home keeper Ryan Steadman fumbled a Keiron Evans cross from the left, but Gareth Hughes' strike was blocked by the Pwll defence.
Tom Patel fired just wide for the visitors before Pwllheli took a freak 23rd minute lead. Tom Roberts' clearance struck Thomas on the back and the ball looped over Pritchard into the net.
It could have been 2-0 when John Paul Roberts found space in the middle of the park and let rip with a stunning shot which Pritchard performed marvels to tip round the post.
However, on 32 minutes poor Rhyl marking from a corner allowed Rory Courlander a free header from three yards and he made no mistake to make it 2-0 at half time.
The Lilywhites came out for the second half a lot stronger and dominated the play with some great football.
Ben Chippendale shot wide for the Pen Llyn outfit before Keiron Evans reduced the deficit with a first time drive into the bottom corner from 18 yards.
James Hay almost equalised when he played a one-two with Jack Roberts but saw his shot well saved by Steadman.
Rhyl kept pressing but on 77 minutes their defence unsuccessfully tried to set an offside trap and allowed Gwyn Jones through to make it 3-1.
Hay was denied by another good Steadman save before the end and Jon Stazicker's side was left to reflect on what might have been.