HEARTBREAK AT SHARP'S LATE WINNER

RHYL 1 (M Williams 53)
THE NEW SAINTS 2 (Ruscoe 45, Sharp 90 + 4)
WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE - APRIL 2, 2010
FOOTBALL can be a cruel game.
You lose a key player just before half time through a very harsh sending-off, then the subsequent free-kick ends up in your net with the help of a big deflection.
Then you bounce back in the second half, score a great equaliser, defend heroically, even threaten a winner on the break and then....the opposition score a winner in the final minute of injury time to leave you devastated.
Let's take nothing away from TNS. They are a good all-round side, excellent on the ball and they will surely end up as worthy champions.
But today, for pure guts and resilience alone, Rhyl were definitely worth a point.
TNS were soon into the stride, but the Lilywhites matched them in most departments and created a few early openings.
Andrew Pearson's lovely pass found Andy Owens in space, but from the left hand side of the box he blasted high and wide.
Martyn Naylor's cross from the right was met by the head of Pearson, and Matthew Williams' shot on the turn would have tested the keeper but was blocked.
From a short corner Chris Williams delivery from the left was met by the head of Matthew Williams but the ball went well wide. Not clear chances, but encouraging nonetheless.
Then on 20 minutes TNS had their first serious effort on goal when Tommy Holmes' shot was deflected wide.
From the subsequent corner, Steve Evans had a free header but was unable to find the target.
The first on-target attempt of the match came on 24 minutes when the excellent Naylor burst forward and hit a firm low drive which Paul Harrison saved comfortably.
Referee Lee Evans started throwing yellow cards around like confetti, not allowing for the slippery conditions, before Rhyl's clearest opening fell on 34 minutes.
A lovely pass from Greg Strong picked out Matthew Williams in space, but his left foot strike was smartly kept out by Harrison.
Then, a big turning point. In the 44th minute Phil Doran, who had already been booked, slid in on Jamie Wood just outside the box. There appeared to be minimal contact, but Wood took a tumble and Evans showed Doran a second yellow.
Again, the conditions should have been taken into account, plus the fact Wood appeared to be "looking" for the free-kick, but Rhyl were down to 10.
To add insult to injury, Scott Ruscoe's free-kick took a big deflection and ended up in the net. Cruel.
HALF-TIME: Rhyl 0 TNS 1.
The start of the second half saw Jack Cudworth do well to deny Wood, but Rhyl were in determined mood and levelled the match on 53 minutes.
Mark Connolly's slide-rule pass picked out Matthew Williams who lashed home a cracking strike from the left-side of the box for his 21st goal of the season.
Saints rallied and Wood volleyed just wide, Sharp's firm hit was punched away acrobatically by Cudworth, then Tommy Holmes' powerful effort rippled the side-netting.
Rhyl had an opening when after playing a one-two with Connolly, Chris Williams was in on the keeper, but instead of chancing his arm he was coerced into being forced wide and had to settle for a corner.
Cudworth did well again to save from Ruscoe, then a great pass from Chris Williams found Connolly who let fly but just missed the goal.
Evans' 25-yarder was kept out by Cudworth, who then did well to grasp the rebound with substitute Steve Abbott closing in.
When Tommy Holmes headed wide from an Alex Darlington cross with the clock showing 92 minutes, it looked like TNS' last hope of a winner had gone.
But champions-in-waiting never stop coming and in the 94th minute Darlington picked out Sharp who drilled a right-foot shot across Cudworth into the far corner.
And that was that, but the applause the Lilywhites received from their brilliant fans as they left the field reflected the performance the home side had put in.

RHYL: Cudworth, Naylor, Doran, Strong, Dowling, Leah, C Williams, Pearson, Connolly, M Williams, Owens. Subs (unused): Owen, Ojapah, Kirk, Ballard.

MATCH FACTS
GOALS: Rhyl 1 TNS 2
ATTEMPTS: Rhyl 9 TNS 17
ON TARGET: Rhyl 3 TNS 8
CORNERS: Rhyl 4 TNS 6
YELLOW CARDS: Rhyl 4 TNS 4
RED CARDS: Rhyl 1 TNS 0
ATTENDANCE: 587
LO MAN OF THE MATCH
Martyn Naylor (Rhyl)
Wholehearted display against his old club

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 (h-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
Mar 13 - Elements Cefn Druids (h-WPL) 6-0 (M Williams 3, 1 pen, Connolly, C Williams, Pearson)
Mar 27 - Caersws (a-WPL) 2-2 (M Williams, Owen)
Apr 2 - The New Saints (h-WPL) 1-2 (M Williams)

GOALS (104): 27 - Mark Connolly; 21 - Matthew Williams; 13 - Lee Hunt; 6 - Chris Williams, John Leah, Greg Strong; 5 - Rob Turner; 4 - Tyrone Kirk, Paul Smith; 3 - Gareth Owen; 2 - Andrew Pearson, George Horan, Phil Doran; 1 - Martyn Naylor, Greg Stones, Andy Owens.