Penycae Football Club C.I.C.

The weekend’s fixture had us on the road again, this time making the trip to Rhydymwyn. After their 6-2 victory over Brymbo in the League cup we knew they would be going into this game confident.

They game started as an even affair with both teams trying to get a foot hold in the game. It was us who had the first opportunity as Kian Davies arrowed a shot destined for the top corner only to see the Rhyd keeper pull off a spectacular save. Five minutes later we had the ball in the net as Aaron Jones headed home only to harshly be ruled to have fouled the keeper. Mounting pressure from Rhyd seen them have numerous corners but defensively we looked organised and restricted them to shots from 25 yards. Rhyd were starting to get a foot hold in the midfield and ex-Penycae player Jamie Wynne was launching attacks as their wingers started to get some joy on the flanks. Just when it looked like the half was going to end 0-0 so we could regroup, Rhyd sent a ball through which their striker managed to get to before Ben Darlington in the Penycae goal, before turning and lofting the ball into the open net.

Second half and the young lads showed what they were capable of and moved the ball around quickly, as the game got stretched spaces opened up and we began winning the battle in midfield. Ben Richards was starting to dictate the play for us and when he picked the ball up before taking on four Rhyd players and finding himself one on one with the keeper everyone toughed we’d levelled only to see his low shot go wide of the post. It only took five minutes for us to have another chance when Ruben Monterio went through only to see his effort well saved by the Rhyd keeper. The chances kept coming as Tommy Edwards was upended in the box but the penalty appeals where waved away, the Rhyd defence slicing a clearance off their own bar and numerous chances flashing across the Rhyd goal it looked as though we wouldn’t get the goal we deserved. Just when the 45 minutes were up we gained a free kick 25 yards out slightly right of centre. Ben Richards took charge and coolly curled the ball into the bottom corner.

If we hadn’t have got the equalizer it would have been a disappointing result to take as we thoroughly deserved a minimum of a point, but the second half performance the lads put in probably deserved the three points.

Rhyd are a strong team who will be up their challenging come May so to come away with a point, and feel unlucky not to have taken all three in the manner we did shows the character of the players we have in the squad.

Next week we are on our travels again as we make the trip to Ruthin Town as we start the League cup.