CONNO RAISES LILYWHITES HOPES
GAP CONNAH'S QUAY 2 (Jones 17, Herbert pen 32)
RHYL 1 (Connolly 55)
LOOSEMORES LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINAL FIRST LEG
MARK Connolly's 16th goal of the season lifted Rhyl's hopes of turning around a 2-1 deficit in next Tuesday's Loosemores Cup semi-final second leg at Belle Vue.
Last night's first leg tussle at Deeside Stadium produced a shock outcome with Quay claiming their first victory over the Lilywhites in 19 league and cup attempts.
It was a fully deserved win for Mark McGregor's side who took the lead on 17 minutes when Lilies keeper Paul Pritchard could only land a weak punch on a free-kick into the box and Craig Jones lashed in the opener.
In the 32nd minute Rhyl were reduced to 10 men when skipper George Horan, facing his old club, put in a tackle in the box on Andy Olsen which was deemed illegal.
Referee Neil Morgan brandished a red card to Horan and from the subsequent penalty Chris Herbert made it 2-0.
Rhyl were a virtual non-entity in the first half, their only effort of note a shot by Tyrone Kirk which went close.
The Lilywhites made a better fist of things after the break and on 55 minutes grabbed a crucial away goal when Connolly curled a fabulous free-kick into the bottom corner from 25 yards.
Greg Stones was not far away from an equaliser and Lee Hunt saw his effort well saved, but Quay could also have notched a third, substitute Michael Hayes firing a couple of late attempts just wide.
Overall, Rhyl were probably glad to come away with just a one-goal defeat which makes them favourites to progress to the final.
RHYL FC RESULTS 2009/10
Aug 15 - Carmarthen Town (WPL - home) 2-1 (Strong, M Williams)
Aug 21 - Airbus UK Broughton (WPL - away) 2-2 (Hunt 2)
Aug 25 - Airbus UK Broughton (LC - a) 2-1 (Hunt, Owen)
Aug 29 - Port Talbot (WPL - h) 2-0 (M Williams, Hunt)
Sep 1 - Prestatyn Town (LC - h) 2-1 (Naylor, Connolly)
Sep 5 - Gap Connah's Quay (WPL - a) 2-0 (M Williams, Connolly)
Sep 11 - Bangor City (WPL - h) 5-1 (Hunt 2, M Williams pen, C Williams, Connolly)
Sep 19 - Newtown (WPL - a) 4-2 (M Williams 2, Strong, Connolly)
Sep 22 - Airbus (LC - h) 4-0 (Connolly 2, Kirk, Doran)
Sep 26 - Porthmadog (WPL - h) 4-0 (Connolly 3, Kirk)
Oct 3 - Llanfairpwll (WC-a) 3-1 (Connolly 2, Smith)
Oct 6 - Prestatyn Town (LC-a) 3-0 (Connolly, Hunt, C Williams)
Oct 9 - Bala Town (WPL-a) 4-0 (Smith, Doran, Horan, Hunt)
Oct 17 - Neath (WPL-a) 0-2
Oct 23 - Elements Cefn Druids (WPL-a) 1-1 (M Williams)
Oct 27 - Porthmadog (LCQF-a) 4-1 (Connolly 2, M Williams 2)
Oct 31 - Bridgend Town (WC-h) 4-2 (Connolly, M Williams, Strong, C Williams)
Nov 7 - Llanelli (WPL-h) 0-0
Nov 10 - Gap Connah's Quay (a-LCSF 1st leg) 1-2 (Connolly)
GOALS: 16 - Mark Connolly; 10 - Matthew Williams; 8 - Lee Hunt; 3 - Greg Strong, Chris Williams; 2 - Tyrone Kirk, Paul Smith, Phil Doran; 1 - Gareth Owen, Martyn Naylor, George Horan.
Older/Newer
« "SOMEONE'S IN FOR A HIDING SOON" - STRONG | BAD NIGHT ALL ROUND »
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: CONNO RAISES LILYWHITES HOPES.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://lilywhites.northwalesblogs.co.uk/cgi-bin/mt421/mt-tb.cgi/160654
3 Comments
Leave a comment
Profile
Dave Jones - For all the latest news from Rhyl Football Club, including match reports, news, views and features log on to Lilywhites On-Line hosted by Visitor sports editor Dave Jones.
Sponsored by...
Rhyl Football in the Community aim through a wide range of initiatives, to encourage people, particularly children, to participate in football and other sports.
Not a good performance at all. During the first half no one seemed to want to play or felt that Connah's Quay should have rolled over and played dead!
All credit to the Nomads they took their chances and we were lucky to be only one goal behind at the end.
I notice Dave that you don't mention the possible injuries to Chris Williams (he pulled up in the first half) and Mark Connolly (who had a crashing fall at the end after going up for a header), they could have big implications for us over the next few weekends not to mention George Horan's suspension.
No question the squad has quality, however I personnally feel and have felt for some time it lacks committment and conviction, many other supporters feel this also. I was not there last night unfortunately but sounds like a carbon copy of Cefn Druids, Bridgend matches when the team lacked any conviction and showed little purpose, you get this overwhelming feeling that they feel its a 'stroll' result is a foregone conclusion etc. Time I feel for Mr Strong to give them a wake up call, two many players going through the motions of late thinking they have a divine right to win matches - WRONG!
I was on a Daily Post shift Rae so didn't attend the game, but thanks for letting me know about those injuries, I'll follow them up.