THIS ONE'S FOR YOU JED

RHYL 4 (Connolly 22 & 61; Kirk 30; Doran 40)
AIRBUS UK BROUGHTON 0
LOOSEMORES LEAGUE CUP GROUP FOUR - SEP 22, 2009
BELOVED Rhyl fan Jed Sumner would have been in his element as the Lilywhites tore apart a totally outclassed Airbus side tonight.
A minute's applause took place before the game in honour of lifelong Lilywhites supporter Jed, who passed away on September 12.
His name was chanted throughout the match by emotional Lilies fans, many of whom had attended his funeral earlier in the day.
And the players certainly added to Jed's great send-off by producing a thrilling display of high energy, attacking football.
True, Airbus fielded virtually a second string line-up, but Rhyl were weakened too with the likes of George Horan, Matthew Williams and Chris Williams all missing through injury, Lee Hunt suspended and first-choice keeper James Coates rested.
As a result some of those considered fringe players were given a start and all performed well, especially Paul Smith who produced a super-charged midfield display.
With no recognised striker available, manager Greg Strong thought to himself why not give the in-form Mark Connolly a chance up front, after all he had scored four goals in four games.
And the move paid off as Conno netted twice and was only denied a hat-trick by Airbus keeper Phil Palethorpe.
New signing Phil Doran volleyed against the post for the hosts before the deadlock was ended on 22 minutes.
Gareth Owen's through pass released Connolly who scored for the fifth successive game by confidently lifting the ball over the advancing Palethorpe.
The lead was doubled when Tyrone Kirk received the ball down the right, left one defender standing and then beat another as he cut into the box and foiled Palethorpe with a near post finish.
Martyn Naylor clattered the bar from 30 yards before on 44 minutes Owen's touch enabled Doran to knock in his debut goal for the Lilies.
Early in the second half Palethorpe produced a fantastic tip over after Kirk twisted, turned and let fly, but on 61 minutes the excellent Smith threaded the ball through for Connolly who slipped the offside trap again and drilled home.
Naylor was desperately unlucky when his 15-yard effort struck both uprights following more good play from Connolly.
With the game in the bag, Strong decided to give veterans Dave Cameron and Gary Powell, who double up as the manager's assistants, a run out in the closing stages.
Cameron missed a sitter within a minute of coming on before Palethorpe's bravery denied Connolly a hat-trick.
When Powell replaced Kirk after 85 minutes it meant Rhyl's strike force had a combined age of 74.
And Powell should have marked his latest comeback with a goal when Smith's shot was saved by Palethorpe and the net was gaping, but the Airbus defence managed to clear Gary's effort off the line.
It could - and should - have been 10 for as well as scoring four Rhyl hit the woodwork on four occasions, but the quality and pace of the football was more than enough to satisfy the 300-plus crowd.
And of course Rhyl have coasted into the quarter-finals of the League Cup as winners of Group Four.
RIP Jed.

RHYL: Pritchard, Naylor, Dowling, Stones, Strong (Heenan 54), Leah, Owen (Cameron 67), Doran, Connolly, Smith, Kirk (Powell 85). Sub: Coates.

MATCH FACTS
GOALS: Rhyl 4 Airbus 0
ATTEMPTS: Rhyl 27 Airbus 4
ON TARGET: Rhyl 17 Airbus 0
CORNERS: Rhyl 6 Airbus 0
YELLOW CARDS: Rhyl 0 Airbus 0
RED CARDS: Rhyl 0 Airbus 0
ATTENDANCE: 305
LILYWHITES ONLINE MAN OF THE MATCH
Paul Smith (Rhyl)
Major contender for a regular place on this form.