FOUR-GOAL RHYL GO FOUR POINTS CLEAR
RHYL 4 (Strong 26, Holden 40, O'Neill 54, Connolly 87)
CAERNARFON TOWN 0
WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE - FEB 28, 2009
IT ended up four but it could have been more, they're the cream of the crop four points clear at the top.
No I'm not turning into Ted Rogers, but Rhyl ran out comfortable winners at Belle Vue today over a Caernarfon side who performed a lot better than one would expect from a team seven points adrift at the bottom.
The visitors coped fairly comfortably with the leaders until the deadlock was broken on 26 minutes.
A deep free-kick into the Town box was headed on by Paul O'Neill and defender Greg Strong showed his strength before stabbing in from close range.
THIS WAS RHYL'S 100TH GOAL IN ALL COMPETITIONS THIS SEASON - WELL DONE GREG!
Andrew Jackson's 30-yard free-kick brought a good low save from Lilies keeper Michael Jones before the hosts made it 2-0 in the 40th minute.
O'Neill crossed from the right and the ball came to Luke Holden whose deflected shot flew in past keeper Lee Guinion.
Holden should have scored again soon after the restart when a sliced Guinion clearance fell to the left-winger but he volleyed wide of a gaping goal.
Caernarfon then had their best chance when Jonathan Humphries put in substitute Kieran Molyneux whose 18-yard effort dipped just over.
Two minutes later Rhyl were 3-0 up when Guinion failed to deal with a Holden free-kick and O'Neill converted at the back post.
The Canaries were reduced to 10 men on 63 minutes when Marc Dermott received a second yellow card for kicking the ball away following the award of a free-kick for an illegal challenge on Holden by Tom Grice (anyone remember Ray Grice, the Brummie slob from Crossroads?).
After that Rhyl created a host of chances but their shooting was all too often off target.
Luke Sherbon, Mark Connolly, substitute Jamie Reed and Matthew Williams all failed to test the keeper when they should have done better.
Finally, on 87 minutes, a long ball from the back by George Horan saw Connolly nip in ahead of the advancing Guinion to nod in goal number four.
It was Conno's first of the season but 15th career league goal for Rhyl, putting him joint 10th in the club's all-time Welsh Premier list.
RHYL: Jones, O'Neill, C Roberts (Stones 79), Horan, Strong, D Williams (G Owen 71), Sherbon, M Williams, N Roberts (Reed 77), Connolly, Holden.
MATCH FACTS
GOALS - Rhyl 4 Caernarfon 0
ATTEMPTS - Rhyl 16 Caernarfon 6
ON TARGET - Rhyl 6 Caernarfon 2
CORNERS - Rhyl 4 Caernarfon 2
YELLOW CARDS - Rhyl 0 Caernarfon 1
RED CARDS - Rhyl 0 Caernarfon 1
ATTENDANCE - 446
LILYWHITES ONLINE MAN OF THE MATCH
Paul O'Neill (Rhyl)
Involved in three of the goals, scoring one himself, and a great all-round game in the right-back position. What a versatile performer he is.
RHYL FC RESULTS 2008/09
Aug 16, 2008 - Newtown (h-lge) 3-0 (Stones, N Roberts, Reed)
Aug 19, 2008 - Airbus UK Broughton (h-LC) 6-1 (C Owen 2, Jones 2, N Roberts, D Williams)
Aug 23, 2008 - Caernarfon Town (a-lge) 1-0 (Horan)
Aug 30, 2008 - Llanelli (h-lge) 5-1 (Strong, Reed, N Roberts 2, Johnson)
Sep 02, 2008 - Welshpool Town (h-LC) 1-2 (Jones)
Sep 05, 2008 - Porthmadog (a-lge) 3-0 (Reed, N Roberts, Jones)
Sep 13, 2008 - Haverfordwest County (h-lge) 2-0 (Reed 2)
Sep 21, 2008 - Neath Athletic (a-lge) 2-2 (Reed, Stones)
Sep 23, 2008 - Airbus UK Broughton (a-LC) 4-0 (C Owen 2, C Roberts, Johnson)
Sep 27, 2008 - Aberystwyth Town (h-lge) 0-0
Oct 04, 2008 - Castell Alun Colts (h-WC R2) 8-0 (Jones, Strong, Johnson, O'Neill, C Owen 2, M Williams 2)
Oct 07, 2008 - Welshpool Town (a-LC) 2-0 (C Roberts, C Owen)
Oct 10, 2008 - Connah's Quay Nomads (h-lge) 2-0 (Horan, O'Neill)
Oct 18, 2008 - Carmarthen Town (h-lge) 3-0 (G Owen, N Roberts 2)
Oct 28, 2008 - Bangor City (a-LC) 1-3 (aet) (Strong)
Nov 1, 2008 - Haverfordwest County (h-WC) 4-0 (Horan, M Williams, N Roberts 2)
Nov 8, 2008 - Caersws (h-lge) 3-1 (Wilson, Williams og, Johnson)
Nov 11, 2008 - Bangor City (a-lge) 2-0 (Reed, N Roberts)
Nov 15, 2008 - Port Talbot Town (h-lge) 2-3 (M Williams, G Owen)
Nov 21, 2008 - Airbus UK Broughton (a-lge) 3-1 (N Roberts, Strong, Jones)
Nov 29, 2008 - Technogroup Welshpool (h-lge) 7-1 (G Owen, M Williams 3, 1 pen, Stones, Wilson, Johnson)
Dec 6, 2008 - The New Saints (a-lge) 3-0 (N Roberts, Horan, Stones)
Dec 12, 2008 - NEWI Cefn Druids (h-lge) 3-4 (Stones, N Roberts, Horan)
Dec 20, 2008 - Newtown (a-lge) 2-1 (M Williams 2)
Dec 27, 2008 - Prestatyn Town (h-lge) 7-2 (Reed 2, M Williams pen, Johnson, G Owen 2, O'Neill)
Jan 17, 2009 - Porthmadog (h-lge) 2-0 (Strong, N Roberts)
Jan 20, 2009 - Llanrug United (h-NWCC) 6-0 (Holden 2, N Roberts, G Owen, A Owen og, C Jones)
Jan 24, 2009 - Haverfordwest County (a-lge) 3-1 (G Owen, N Roberts, Holden)
Jan 31, 2009 - Bangor City (a-WCR4) 1-1 (Strong) - lost 4-2 on pens
Feb 7, 2009 - Neath Athletic (h-lge) 4-2 (Holden 2, N Roberts 2)
Feb 15, 2009 - Aberystwyth Town (a-lge) 1-0 (Reed)
Feb 21, 2009 - Connah's Quay Nomads (a-lge) 3-2 (C Roberts, N Roberts 2)
Feb 28, 2009 - Caernarfon Town (h-lge) 4-0 (Strong, Holden, O'Neill, Connolly)
GOALS (103): 20 - Neil Roberts; 10 - Matthew Williams, Jamie Reed; 7 - Carl Owen, Craig Jones, Gareth Owen, Greg Strong; 6 - Josh Johnson, Luke Holden; 5 - George Horan, Greg Stones; 4 - Paul O'Neill, 3 - Chris Roberts; 2 - Gareth Wilson; 1 - Danny Williams, Mark Connolly, 2 own goals.
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Not a classic, some very poor finishing again, but three more valuable points and winning that game in hand was really important today. Check out the site for updated tables.
I'm sure that caernarfon "best chance" was a great save by Michael Jones - even tho the ref awarded a free kick.
After a dreadful display the previous week at Deeside this was a far better showing against a poor Caernarfon side who offered very little resistence after the first 20 minutes or so and really should have been punished more severely with better finishing. Rhyl have certainly mastered the art of just doing enough to win without exerting themselves unduely. The introduction of Owen on 70 mins brought far more composure and creativity to the midfield, again I feel obliged to air concerns about the inclusion of Sherbon in the starting eleven for me he is largely invisible and I was interested to see he is down as a 'goal scoring midfielder' on present showing I find this highly unlikely (prove me wrong Luke). Still feel we have lost our width in recent matches, roll on the return of Craig Jones. Talking of wingers can anyone tell me the whereabouts of Josh Johnson these days?
Josh Johnson and Craig Jones were both sitting on the balcony above the dressing rooms. Craig told me he is not injured but don't know about Johnson.
Thanks for that info DGW, incredible, if Craig is not injured why on earth is he not in the squad never mind the team. Am seriously starting to question the logic behind recent team selection. Where has all the early season 'pretty' football gone? If they are not careful there will be a host of clubs posting 'seven days notices of approach' for the little wing wizard?
Seven points clear but some people still aren't happy, sometimes champions have to win ugly, how can you look like Barcelona when you're playing on Connah's Quay and Welshpool cow fields! There was some very good stuff played against Caernarfon, not a mention of that. Bickerstaff said he wanted to give Craig more recovery time, last night he picked him, he's doing his best to operate a rotational system and keep a talented squad happy. Stop your bloody moaning and celebrate the best team Rhyl have had in years. Ok I agree they flopped twice against Bangor in the cups and that hurt but most times they'll have Bangor's measure as they did in the league game at Farrar Road. Moan, moan, moan. The ghost of Sossy looms large.
Nice Post Mr Mint! It's the prerogative of football fans to moan I'm afraid. Having witnessed such luminaries as Craig Le Cornu disgrace the Belle Vue turf, no complaints from me this season.
Think you might be confusing yourself Mr Mint between, opinions and constructive criticism?
Think you might be the confused one JDH, can't opinions and constructive criticism be basically the same thing? Depending on the nature of the opinion? Shouldn't your statement have read: "think you might be confusing yourself between slagging off and constructive criticism"? Regardless, I believe you are a blatant bleater who is always looking for the first opportunity to knock the team. Just my opinion of course. And just possibly constructive criticism!
Blimey, this thread is turning into a lesson in semantics. It would be nice to play attractive & flowing football every game (of the type this team is well capable of playing), but to wheel out that greatest of footballing cliches, 3 points are all that matters at this time of the season. I don't care if the ball goes in from Conno's nob, via a deflection from the referee, if we win Saturday. Let's save the semantic classes for the Summer eh? That's all I've got to say about that....
'Bleater I may be' but never the less Mr Mint 'I pays my money' therefore that entitles me to 'bleat'. Oh by the way I beg to differ:
critical = to find a fault
opinion = make a judgement or have a view
Am I missing the point, are they the same?
C'mon guys, we should only be concentrating on 1 thing - supporting the whites towards the WPL Title. It's great we don't agree on everything. You 2 are going to have to settle this debate by an old fashioned game of paper-scissor-stone outside the Tuck Shop (or Vets as it is sadly now).
Do you mean the 'cold coffee shop'? sorry I'm ''bleating' again!
This blog would be all the poorer without the contributions of JDH and Eamon, but maybe Wob is right, time to draw a line under this particular debate. How about it lads? Do you think Rhyl can make it the big 10 tomorrow? Answer on the "History in the Making" thread if you wish....