FAMOUS WIN FOR STAZI'S HEROES

RHYL RESERVES 2 (Patel 37, Roose 64)
BETHESDA ATHLETIC 1 (Owen 39)
WELSH ALLIANCE LEAGUE - FEB 14, 2009
MIKE Roose's 22nd goal of the season clinched what was surely Rhyl Reserves' finest win under Jon Stazicker.
Bethesda's 100% record of 15 straight wins was shattered at Belle Vue and to add insult to injury Rhyl replaced them at the top of the Welsh Alliance League.
However, Chris O'Neal's side have six games in hand on the Lilywhites and despite this setback they are surely destined for back-to-back titles.
While Roose took the goal headlines it was stand-in keeper Sam Brewerton who was man of the match.
Brewerton was outstanding in defence in the first half, then when he replaced the injured Jamie Jones between the sticks in the second period he produced another tremendous performance.
Pesda started strongly and Jones had to be quick off the mark to deny Craig Roberts before a Matty Hughes header was cleared from close to the goal-line by Brewerton.
Richie Owen's overhead kick flew just wide for the visitors, then Rhyl's Sam Heenan made a dynamic run but his 20-yard shot was deflected narrowly off target.
Athletic continued to look the more dangerous and when Carl Thomas' free-kick fell to Owen in the box a goal looked certain but Jones produced a great stop.
Thomas then went close with a header from a Paul Rowlands corner which was cleared by Scott Millington with Pesda adamant the ball had gone over the line.
Slightly against the run of play Rhyl took a 37th minute lead when Roose crossed into the box from the left and an unmarked Tom Patel made it 1-0 from close range.
Bethesda levelled two minutes later when a superb cross with the outside of his right foot by Darren Jones was headed in by Owen for his 29th goal of the season.
Just before the break Roose rounded keeper David Clarke and the home side were convinced Thomas had used a hand to clear off the line, but the officials refused their penalty request.
Owen then should have made it 2-1 to the visitors but blasted over from eight yards.
HALF-TIME: 1-1.
With Jones forced off injured and a makeshift keeper in his place, Pesda must have fancied their chances of a 16th straight win, but Rhyl raised their game and went on to dominate the majority of the second stanza.
Brewerton produced a good save from a Rowlands 20-yarder before at the other end Matty Hughes made a last-ditch tackle to thwart Roose.
From a corner Clarke saved well from Heenan in a desperate goalmouth scramble, then Roose lashed wide from 10 yards with just the keeper to beat.
A Rhyl goal looked inevitable and on 64 minutes Patel's excellent cross from the right was finished off from two yards by Roose who made it 10 goals in six matches.
Brewerton brilliantly tipped over from a Darren Jones 30-yard strike, then when the keeper rushed out to deny Owen the goal was left unguarded but Nigel Barry's effort from 40 yards flew just wide.
Another fantastic tackle by Brewerton, who was playing like a defender as well as a keeper, denied Darren Gowans.
Pesda pushed but were unable to break down a stubborn home defence, their best late chance falling to Craig Roberts who volleyed just wide from 10 yards.
Rhyl held on relatively comfortably to make it 10 home league wins in 11 starts.
This match was a tremendous advert for the Welsh Alliance League and a credit to both teams.

RHYL: J Jones (Bucknall 46), Brewerton, Bennett (K Evans 65), France, T Roberts, J Roberts, Patel, Heenan, Higgins, Roose (King 89), Millington.

MATCH FACTS
GOALS - Rhyl 2 Bethesda 1
ATTEMPTS - Rhyl 14 Bethesda 13
ON TARGET - Rhyl 7 Bethesda 7
CORNERS - Rhyl 5 Bethesda 8
YELLOW CARDS - Rhyl 2 Bethesda 1
RED CARDS - Rhyl 0 Bethesda 0
ATTENDANCE - N/A
LILYWHITES ONLINE MAN OF THE MATCH
Sam Brewerton (Rhyl) - brilliant both in and out of goal.

RHYL RESERVES RESULTS 2008/09
Aug 16, 2008 - Barmouth and Dyffryn (a-lge) 2-2 (Evans, Ahern)
Aug 20, 2008 - Glan Conwy (a-lge) 0-1
Aug 23, 2008 - Nefyn United (h-lge) 3-0 (Patel 2, Roose)
Aug 26, 2008 - Halkyn United (a-lge) 4-1 (Brewerton, Millington, Roose 2)
Aug 30, 2008 - Nefyn United (a-lge) 1-1 (Hay)
Sep 5, 2008 - Halkyn United (h-lge) 3-0 (Hughes, Roose 2)
Sep 9, 2008 - Llanrug United (h-lge) 4-2 (Hay 2, Roose, Griffiths)
Sep 13, 2008 - Rhydymwyn (a-lge) 2-1 (Heenan, Hughes)
Sep 16, 2008 - Nantlle Vale (h-lge) 5-2 (J Roberts 2, Roose, Millington, Hughes)
Sep 20, 2008 - Amlwch Town (h-lge) 8-0 (Hay, C Roberts, Millington, Williams, J Roberts, Roose 2, Griffiths)
Oct 14, 2008 - Llandudno Junction (h-lge) 7-3 (M Williams 3, Strong, Ahern, N Roberts, Roose)
Oct 18, 2008 - Conwy United (a-lge) 4-1 (M Williams 4)
Oct 21, 2008 - Llanllyfni (h-lge) 2-1 (Ahern, Brewerton)
Oct 25, 2008 - Rhydymwyn (a-Cookson Cup) 1-2 (Roose)
Nov 1, 2008 - Llanberis (a-lge) 0-1
Nov 4, 2008 - Glan Conwy (h-lge) 1-0 (Patel)
Nov 15, 2008 - Llanrug United (a-lge) 3-4 (Owen, Roose 2)
Nov 22, 2008 - Sychdyn (h-Barritt Cup) 1-0 (Tom Roberts)
Nov 29, 2008 - Pwllheli (a-lge) 1-3 (Evans)
Dec 6, 2008 - Llanrwst United (h-lge) 0-3
Dec 20, 2008 - Barmouth & Dyffryn (h-lge) 3-1 (Roose 3)
Jan 24, 2009 - Mochdre Sports (h-BC R2) 3-1 (Roose 2, 1 pen, Millington)
Jan 31, 2009 - Nantlle Vale (a-lge) 5-0 (Patel, Roose 2, 1 pen, T Roberts, Brewerton)
Feb 7, 2009 - Amlwch Town (a-lge) 4-1 (Higgins 2, Roose pen, 1 own goal)
Feb 14, 2009 - Bethesda Athletic (h-lge) 2-1 (Patel, Roose)
GOALS (69): 22 - Mike Roose; 8 - Matthew Williams; 5 - Tom Patel, Scott Millington; 4 - James Hay; 3 - Gareth Hughes, Jack Roberts, Joe Ahern; 2 - Craig Griffiths, Keiron Evans, Tom Roberts, Sam Brewerton, Jack Higgins; 1 - Chris Roberts, Sam Heenan, Neil Roberts, Greg Strong, Carl Owen, own goals - 1.