Llandudno Junction F.C v Llanrug F.C
08th March 2008

After last week’s disappointing result away at Nantlle Vale where everything that could go wrong went wrong we had to dust ourselves down and try and put the defeat behind us and perform to our best abilities and gain the three points that were available. With Crouchy and Tony unavailable due to their suspension our full squad this week was as follows:-

Joey Welsh

James Hobson, Neil Picton MOM, Darryl Jones1, Dwyfor Williams

John Paul Colville, Nathan Jones, Steve Priestley1, John Blundell.

Ross Stevens, Bobby Colville.

Sam Magill, Mike Williams, Neil Poynton.

We arrived at the Home of Football in miserable conditions the wind blowing hard and the rain driving into our faces, we decided this week the even numbers would take out the dugouts and due to the conditions put them side by side. The Referee announced before he kicked off that he would start the game but may not finish it due to the conditions, after six minutes we wish we hadn’t started as Llanrug took the first opportunity after we failed to clear a corner and their number six who was on the edge of the box unmarked rifled in his to make it 0-1. Then as the conditions worsened so did the score line or so we thought when the Referee awarded a pen to Llanrug which was taken and found the back of our net, the lads remonstrated with the Referee about a Llanrug player encroaching into the area which he agreed with and awarded us a free kick instead of a retake which everyone else was expecting a big let off for us and a big lift.
Sadly we conceded another sloppy goal three minutes later, which their number four finished well, we rallied and tried to play some football but the conditions were not for playing football and each time we tried the attack broke down. We did however have some highlights through this passage of play and one incident when Natty was unlucky when he cleverly disguised his shot and opted to chip the keeper and unfortunately the bar too. We were awarded a free kick just on the half way line and Hobbo fired in a fantastic ball which found Darrel on the back post to slide in to make it 1-2.
Since taking the reins of the First team we have performed well but today our performance was sloppy and a poor back pass presented Llanrug with another opportunity but Joey rushed out and the shot ricocheted out for a throw in. We were now in a game that we could dominate and win as long as we defended well and keep our discipline and when we thought we had equalised through some good football the referee adjudged Natty to be off side, then Hobbo drilled in an exquisite ball which JP headed goal wards with a looping effort. Joey kept us in the game when he did brilliantly in a one on one situation and kept his nerve then it was Dwyfor’s turn to deny a certain goal when he cleared off the line. Then in the 39th minute Llanrug attacked down the left hand side and delivered a fine cross and with our defence no where to be seen Rich Evans made it 1-3, just as the half time whistle approached Hobbo smashed a great shot goal wards which was defended well and Natty was unlucky with the follow up.
Halftime score 1-3 and the worst performance we have seen against a very average side. This week the dressing room was flat and we told the lads that the performance was unacceptable and if that was how we are going to carry on we will find ourselves being relegated and the laughing stock of local football as the heart and desire was severely lacking and the second half must see an improvement. The sun had come out to welcome the lads for the second half but that was all that greeted us as the weather had put our supporters off, we kicked off the second half and our first chance was created by Natty who chipped his shot just wide. Llanrug launched the ball forward that they controlled well and played the all wide their number 11 drilled in a low cross which went out for a corner but the referee gave a corner! We were pushing hard and trying to get the goal that would bring us back into the game and in the 52nd Darrel was unlucky to see his shot just drift over the cross bar when he fired a glorious shot in.
The game was end to end with not a lot happening in the middle of the park as it was so sticky under foot and Dwyfor cleared another effort which found John Blundell in space but he was unable to run with the ball. Llanrug were also pushing to get the goal that would kill us off and had a very good chance but there number 10 shot wide, the bright spark of the second half came won Pico played a good ball into Swampy who instantly passed to Natty who threaded the ball into Ross who turned well and beat his man and curled a great ball towards goal but just sailed wide. Frustrations were getting the better of the lads and the criticism was being levelled at each other and the heads were starting to drop and in the 64th minute Joey failed to collect a cross which got away from him and Rich Evans bagged his second of the day. John B tried to inspire the lads into action when he gathered the ball just inside our half and ran at the Llanrug defence but he was halted not by the defenders but the pitch when the ball got stuck in the mud and Llanrug cleared the danger. This run did spark us into life and when we were awarded a corner the ball was fired to the back post area where Swampy was lurking and fired home a spectacular volley almost Di Canio esque 2-4. We were now slightly coming to the boil and we won the ball in midfield and released JP who smashed his effort over the cross bar. In the 75th minute Rich Evans could have finished to complete his hat trick but got it all wrong and spooned his chance over from three yards out! With this let off fresh in our minds, we didn’t learn how to defend the first or second ball and when Llanrug scored direct from a corner the writing was on the wall for the shambolic performance that we had put in 2-5. Five minutes later we finished the scoring when Swampy tried clearing but unfortunately put into our net and the icing on the cake to make it 2-6.

 The worst performance to date and sadly a second defeat which is the last thing we needed when all about us keep winning, next week sees the visit of Conwy who will be fired up to gain revenge after we recently took an unexpected point from them where we showed heart, desire, skill, energy and belief something that we will have to find again and very quickly if we are to survive in this league.