TEN-MAN NEATH PINCH THE POINTS

RHYL 0
NEATH 1 (Llewelyn 49)
WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE - MARCH 6, 2010
TEN-MAN Neath were indebted to goalkeeper Anthony Williams for ensuring they claimed their first ever victory at Belle Vue.
After Eagles midfielder Stephen Pockett received a straight red card early in the second half for making an obscene gesture to the crowd, the visitors had to contend with wave after wave of Rhyl pressure, but ex-Wrexham glovesman Williams pulled out some top drawer saves to deny the Lilywhites.
It was The Gnoll outfit that had the first chance of the afternoon, Chris Jones' firm strike from 10 yards being well saved by Jack Cudworth, who initially presented the ball to the opposition from a poor kick-out.
Neath looked far the sharper in the early stages, but as the half wore on Rhyl began to find their feet and Andrew Dyer's side were grateful to defender Liam Hancock for clearing Andrew Pearson's shot from close to the goal-line.
Matthew Williams then tried to turn John Leah's shot into the net but Hancock was there again to block.
Four minutes into the second period Neath went ahead when Jones' pinpoint cross from the right was poked home from six yards in typical poachers' style by ex-Norwich City, Wrexham and Wales striker Chris Llewelyn.
Soon after Pockett was given his marching orders by referee Huw Jones and after that the Eagles were content to put 10 men behind the ball and defend for their lives.
Just past the hour Rhyl striker Matthew Williams found some rare space in the box from a Leah pass but blasted wide of the target.
Jones went close with an audacious chip for the visitors before the Lilywhites' first shot on target in the 68th minute saw Williams brilliantly tip away a rocket from his namesake Matthew.
Pearson then created a good opportunity in the box, but Williams went down superbly at his near post to keep the ball out.
Rhyl were piling on the pressure, but Neath were generally defending well and denying the hosts clear openings.
The shooting on the whole from the Lilywhites was poor, in sharp contrast to some recent deadly displays in front of goal. In their previous five home matches Rhyl had netted 22 times.
It could have been 1-1 with four minutes remaining, though, when Rob Turner turned smartly in the box but Williams was equal to his low drive.
The result gives Neath clear daylight in sixth spot, but damaged Rhyl's hopes of qualifying for Europe for a seventh successive season with the Lilies dropping to fourth following Aberystwyth's win at Newtown.
Neath celebrated at the final whistle as if they'd won the league, but despite all their big spending they are going to win nothing.

RHYL: Cudworth, Pearson, Owens (C Williams 62), Strong, Dowling, Leah, Doran, Connolly, Turner (Naylor 86), M Williams, Kirk. Unused subs: Owen, Heenan.

MATCH FACTS
GOALS: Rhyl 0 Neath 1
ATTEMPTS: Rhyl 17 Neath 5
ON TARGET: Rhyl 4 Neath 2
CORNERS: Rhyl 4 Neath 5
YELLOW CARDS: Rhyl 0 Neath 0
RED CARDS: Rhyl 0 Neath 1
ATTENDANCE: 361
LO MAN OF THE MATCH
Shaun Dowling (Rhyl)
Played with a maturity beyond his years

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)
Nov 14 - Caersws (WPL-h) 3-1 (Connolly, Hunt 2)
Nov 17 - Gap Connah's Quay (h-LCSF 2nd leg) 4-0 (Connolly, Hunt, Smith 2)
Nov 22 - The New Saints (a-WPL) 0-4
Nov 29 - Haverfordwest County (a-WPL) 1-2 (Strong)
Dec 5 - Aberystwyth Town (a-WPL) 2-2 (Leah, Hunt)
Dec 12 - Technogroup Welshpool (h-WPL) 4-1 (Leah, C Williams, Hunt, Owen)
Dec 16 - Colwyn Bay (a-NWCC) 1-0 (Stones)
Dec 26 - Prestatyn Town (a-WPL) 0-0
Jan 2 - Prestatyn Town (h-WPL) 1-1 (Leah)
Jan 16 - Port Talbot (a-WPL) 1-2 (Turner)
Jan 23 - Gap Connah's Quay (h-WPL) 4-1 (Connolly, Horan, M Williams 2)
Jan 26 - Airbus UK Broughton (h-WPL) 2-1 (M Williams pen, Turner)
Jan 30 - Pontardawe Town (h-WCR4) 7-0 (Leah 3, Connolly 2, Turner, Kirk)
Feb 7 - Bangor City (a-WPL) 1-3 (M Williams pen)
Feb 14 - Newtown (h-WPL) 4-2 (Strong, M Williams, Owens, Kirk)
Feb 20 - Porthmadog (a-WPL) 2-0 (Strong, Connolly)
Feb 24 - Bala Town (h-WPL) 5-2 (Pearson, C Williams, Connolly 2, Turner)
Feb 27 - Prestatyn Town (a-WC) 4-4 (Connolly 2, M Williams, Turner) - Lost 5-4 pens
Mar 6 - Neath (h-WPL) 0-1

GOALS (95): 26 - Mark Connolly; 16 - Matthew Williams; 13 - Lee Hunt; 6 - John Leah, Greg Strong; 5 - Rob Turner; Chris Williams; 4 - Tyrone Kirk, Paul Smith; 2 - George Horan, Phil Doran, Gareth Owen; 1 - Martyn Naylor, Greg Stones, Andy Owens, Andrew Pearson.