April 2009 Archives

TOMORROW'S Daily Post will feature a full-page article comparing Rhyl's Welsh Premier championship-winning sides of 2003/04 and 2008/09.
The article will include the views of some of the Lilywhites fans.

RHYL midfielder Gareth Owen is the latest winner of the annual Daily Post Phil Stanley Memorial Trophy.
The dynamic performances of the former Wrexham and Doncaster Rovers maestro have been a key factor in the Lilywhites lifting the Welsh Premier League title.
Owen, 37, was signed by the Lilies last summer from Airbus UK Broughton, where he had been player-manager for three seasons.
The former Wales under-21 and B international was stunned when told before Saturday's game at Newi Cefn Druids that Daily Post readers had chosen him as the Welsh Premier player of the season.
"I'm astounded, I wasn't expecting this at all," said Owen. "For me, football is all about winning as a team rather than gaining individual awards, but nonetheless I'm deeply honoured to win this trophy.
"I'd like to say a special thank you to all Daily Post readers who voted for me and to the managers who put me forward as a candidate in the first place."
The Phil Stanley Memorial Trophy is presented every year in honour of the late sports journalist and highly respected Daily Post correspondent who passed away in November 2005.
Welsh Premier League managers choose the contenders for the award and Post readers then vote for who they think is the top player.
Owen polled the highest number of votes but team-mate Neil Roberts ran him close, followed by Bangor's Chris Sharp and Sion Edwards.
Lilywhites Online compiler Dave Jones, MMD sports editor for the Daily Post and weekly titles, presented the trophy to Owen on Saturday and is eternally grateful to his Post collegues for not printing the picture in the paper.
"It was awful and shall be banished to Room 101 for ever," said Jones. "Despite my senior years I am still unable to do up a tie properly.
"My friends at Rhyl have also christened me "the accused" as I wore a suit on the day and am never seen in one."

LLANELLI AFC are pleased to announce the appointment of Andy Legg as our new manager with immediate effect.
This reflects the club's philosophy of promoting from within. Andy has been a great asset to the club since he arrived three seasons ago. He has terrific credentials in taking this position having played at the highest level in league football and for Wales.
Andy is a thorough professional who is extremely well respected by players wherever he has gone. His appointment reflects the club's view that it must continue to build for the future and once again maintain a serious challenge for top honours this coming season.
Andy will have full flexibility in choosing his management team and the Board will continue to offer its full support to provide Andy with every chance of success.
His first game in charge will be on Tuesday night in the West Wales Cup Final when we welcome West End to Stebonheath Park.

Good luck Andy from Lilywhites Online. You are a great professional and an inspiration to us all in what you have been through and overcome.

RHYL RESERVES 4 (Roose 3, 78; Higgins 49, King 90)
HOLYWELL TOWN 0
WELSH ALLIANCE LEAGUE - APRIL 28, 2009
THE Reserves finished off their league fixtures in fine style with an emphatic defeat of Holywell on Tuesday night.
It meant Jon Stazicker's side moved up to second in the Welsh Alliance although they are very likely to finish lower.
The result over Holywell was sweet revenge as the Lilywhites had lost 4-1 to the Wellmen 10 days before.
Mike Roose notched a double to take his season's total to 26 while Jack Higgins and Martin King also got on the scoresheet.

RHYL RESERVES FINAL LEAGUE RECORD:
PLAYED: 32
WON: 19
DRAWN: 4
LOST: 9
GOALS FOR: 82
GOALS AGAINST: 43
POINTS: 61
POSITION: Unconfirmed

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)
Feb 21, 2009 - Llanrwst United (a-lge) 0-1
Mar 7, 2009 - Llanberis (h-lge) 0-1
Mar 14, 2009 - Llandudno Junction (a-lge) 3-3 (Patel 2, Evans)
Mar 21, 2009 - Abergele Rovers (h-BCQF) 2-1 (Patel, Morgan)
Mar 28, 2009 - Pwllheli (h-lge) 4-1 (Stones 2, Brewerton, 1 own goal)
Mar 31, 2009 - Rhydymwyn (h-lge) 2-0 (C Owen 2)
Apr 4, 2009 - Bethesda Athletic (a-lge) 2-3 (Ross, Griffiths pen)
Apr 7, 2009 - Conwy United (h-lge) 1-0 (C Owen)
Apr 13, 2009 - Conwy United (h-BCSF) 2-0 (Roose, Millington)
Apr 18, 2009 - Holywell Town (a-lge) 1-4 (T Roberts)
Apr 25, 2009 - Llanllyfni (a-lge) 1-1 (Roose)
Apr 28, 2009 - Holywell Town (h-lge) 4-0 (Roose 2, Higgins, King)

GOALS (91): 26 - Mike Roose; 8 - Matthew Williams, Tom Patel; 6 - Scott Millington; 4 - James Hay, Carl Owen; 3 - Gareth Hughes, Jack Roberts, Keiron Evans, Joe Ahern, Sam Brewerton, Craig Griffiths, Tom Roberts, Jack Higgins; 2 - Greg Stones; 1 - Chris Roberts, Sam Heenan, Neil Roberts, Greg Strong, Sean Morgan, Darren Ross, Martin King; own goals - 2.

LLANLLYFNI 1 (Davies 10)
RHYL RESERVES 1 (Roose)
WELSH ALLIANCE LEAGUE - APRIL 25, 2009
RHYL will be aiming to end their season on a high note when they tackle Llandudno Junction in the final of the Barritt Cup this Saturday at Bangor City's Farrar Road, kick off 2.30pm.
Jon Stazicker's side were ousted from second place in the Welsh Alliance League when they could only draw at Llanllyfni at the weekend.
The hosts took a 10th minute lead when Gavin Davies scored with a glancing header with keeper Jamie Jones in no-man's land.
Jack Higgins hit the post for Rhyl, then three minutes before the break Higgins supplied the through pass from which Mike Roose rounded keeper Neil Perkins and slotted in the equaliser.
In the second half Roose's chip over Perkins bounced agonisingly wide and the Rhyl striker was unlucky not to win a late penalty following a blatant trip on him in the box.

RHYL Football Club is delighted to announce that Vandanel Sport Ltd will supply kit to them for the next three years.
"When considering new suppliers there were several factors that had to be taken into account," said Rhyl managing director Dave Milner.
"The quality, ease of ordering, speed of delivery, value for money, and range of products were just a few of the boxes that needed ticking before we chose Vandanel.
"Vandanel have made presentations to our management and have impressed us greatly with their professionalism and flexibility and we look forward to a successful and long standing relationship with this fast-growing company."
After winning the Principality Welsh Premier League this season Rhyl will be representing Wales in the Champions League this summer and Vandanel have been duly recognised as a kit supplier for UEFA competitions.
To be an authorised supplier for these competitions requires the supplier meeting exact standards and Vandanel have certainly met these.
Vandanel has also kindly agreed to provide kit for Rhyl FC Youth Academy, and the highly successful Football in the Community Programme.
Rhyl Football in the Community run various projects that aim, through a wide range of initiatives, to encourage people, particularly young people, to participate in football and other sports.
Using football's enormous communicative power, they have achieved educational, health and social goals within the community.
Currently, Rhyl Football in the Community and Vandanel staff are working hard on a project which will see the existing club shop refurbished, and turned into a state-of-the-art educational centre - home to an innovative education and football programme.
Vandanel business development manager Steve Marsters commented: "The new partnership will be of mutual benefit to Rhyl FC and Vandanel and we are delighted to be providing the kit to the first team, reserves, youth academy, and FITC scheme for the next three seasons."

FOR the sixth season running Rhyl FC boast the highest average home attendance in the Welsh Premier League.
The club's 2008/09 Belle Vue average of 742 is the biggest in the league's 17-year history.
Rhyl also attracted the highest crowd of 2008/09 - 2,126 versus Prestatyn Town on December 27.
And the Lilywhites also topped the away attendance table with 428, ahead of Bangor City (418) and Prestatyn Town (368), meaning Rhyl are either the league's biggest draw at opposition grounds or have the largest away following.
RHYL HOME AVERAGE ATTENDANCE FIGURES FOR LAST SIX SEASONS:
2008/09 - 742
2007/08 - 477
2006/07 - 492
2005/06 - 476
2004/05 - 597
2003/04 - 586

* RHYL are one of only three clubs in Welsh Premier League history to go unbeaten away from home throughout a season. The previous two were The New Saints in 2001/02 and Barry Town in 1997/98.
* THE Lilywhites end the season on an 18-match unbeaten run made up of 17 wins and a draw.
* RHYL'S 2008/09 average attendance of 742 is the highest in the league's history.

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 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)
Mar 3, 2009 - Technogroup Welshpool (a-lge) 2-0 (N Roberts, Horan)
Mar 7, 2009 - Carmarthen Town (a-lge) 2-1 (Reed, Sherbon)
Mar 13, 2009 - Bangor City (h-lge) 4-1 (Reed, G Owen, N Roberts, Horan)
Mar 21, 2009 - Caersws (a-lge) 3-0 (M Williams 2, C Jones)
Mar 29, 2009 - Port Talbot (a-lge) 2-2 (O'Neill, Stones)
April 4, 2009 - Airbus UK Broughton (h-lge) 1-0 (Allen og)
April 11, 2009 - Llanelli (a-lge) 1-0 (N Roberts)
April 13, 2009 - Prestatyn Town (a-lge) 4-1 (G Owen, Strong, Sherbon, Reed)
April 18, 2009 - The New Saints (h-lge) 2-1 (N Roberts, Connolly)
April 25, 2009 - NEWI Cefn Druids (a-lge) 4-2 (Connolly, Horan, M Williams 2)
* Challenge Cup result v Llanrug expunged from records.

GOALS (122):
23 - Neil Roberts
14 - Matthew Williams
13 - Jamie Reed
8 - George Horan, Gareth Owen, Greg Strong
7 - Carl Owen, Craig Jones
6 - Josh Johnson, Greg Stones
5 - Paul O'Neill
4 - Luke Holden
3 - Mark Connolly, Chris Roberts
2 - Luke Sherbon, Gareth Wilson
1 - Danny Williams
2 own goals.

NEWI CEFN DRUIDS 2 (Jones 24, Lewis 71)
RHYL 4 (Connolly 5, Horan 21, M Williams 59 & 72)
WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE - APRIL 25, 2009
IN a season where Rhyl have broken several club records today they set one for the Welsh Premier League.
The Lilywhites' final total of 90 points is the highest ever for the WPL in a 34-game season.
The record all-time tally is Barry Town's 105 points in 1996/97 but it took them 40 matches to reach that figure.
On top of that, Rhyl have set five main club records this term:
Most wins: 29
Most goals: 95
Most points: 90
Best ever start: 5 wins
Most successive wins: 12
Before today's match at Plaskynaston Lane, Lilywhites midfielder Gareth Owen received the Daily Post Phil Stanley Memorial Trophy after being chosen by the readers as the WPL's top player for 2008/09. Congratulations Gareth.
Rhyl made the perfect start when after just five minutes Mark Connolly lashed home a superb volley from just outside the box which gave Druids keeper Gerard McGuigan no chance.
It became 2-0 on 21 minutes when George Horan outjumped everyone to head in a Connolly long throw.
Druids, who won 4-3 at Belle Vue back in December, pulled one back three minutes later when Lee T Jones' excellent free-kick could only be helped into the net by Greg Stones.
Neil Roberts tremendous volley was kept out by McGuigan before keeper Lee Kendall atoned for conceding a free-kick by saving Andrew Edgar's header.
Fantastic football from Rhyl almost brought a third goal before the break, Connolly, Owen, Stones and Roberts all involved in a slick passing move before Matthew Williams lashed just over.
HALF-TIME: 1-2.
After a scrappy start to the second period Rhyl scored a goal of true quality on 59 minutes when Danny Williams crossed deep from the right, Luke Holden sidefooted across the six-yard box and Matthew Williams volleyed home.
Cefn were not finished, though, and on 71 minutes a mix-up between Chris Roberts and Paul O'Neill in dealing with a long clearance allowed Geraint Lewis to score with a corking volley.
Less than 60 seconds later, however, Neil Roberts broke into the box down the right and squared to Matthew Williams who brilliantly beat McGuigan from 10 yards.
Williams could have completed a hat-trick but did not connect properly with a Josh Johnson cross.

RHYL: Kendall, Stones (O'Neill 68), C Roberts, Horan, Strong, D Williams (Wilson 61), G Owen, M Williams, N Roberts, Connolly (Johnson 77), Holden.

MATCH FACTS
GOALS - Druids 2 Rhyl 4
ATTEMPTS - Druids 4 Rhyl 14
ON TARGET - Druids 3 Rhyl 6
CORNERS - Druids 2 Rhyl 4
YELLOW CARDS - Druids 3 Rhyl 0
RED CARDS - Druids 0 Rhyl 0
ATTENDANCE - 402
LILYWHITES ONLINE MAN OF THE MATCH
Matthew Williams (Rhyl)
Two goals and a lively display up front.