SEASON 2011/ 12
Fixtures/Results | Tables | Goal Scorers
MATCH REPORTS
Saturday 28th January - Borras Park Albion (A). W 0
- 2
The second meeting in as many weeks as we
came up against a stubborn Borras side who were hard to
break down. During the first 45 minutes we couldn't get
into our rhythm and we produced some of the worst football
all season. We went in at half-time 1 - nil thanks to a
well taken goal by Pete Brown who broke the offside trap
to loft the ball over the advancing keeper. Second half we
kept possession better and created chances and when Brown
went clear he smashed the ball into the keepers bottom
left. We were unlucky not to extend our lead with numerous
chances flashing wide of the Borras goal.
Saturday 21st January - Borras Park
Albion (H). W 3 - 1
Penycae have moved into second spot after beating
visitors Borras Park Albion 3-1. Although trailing 1 - 0
at the break with a Matty Williams goal the home side hit
back through Tom Smith, Gareth Jones and Ian Mathias to
secure the points.
Saturday 14th January - Llay Welfare (A) - League. W
1 - 5
The Welfare is never a easy place to go so
when we opened the scoring on 5 minutes through Tom Smith
it settled us down although Llay pinned us back in the
opening 15 minutes. We started to take a foot hold in the
game after 20 minutes and when we scored two in six
minutes through Tom Smith (27) & Kev Edwards (33) we
looked to be in control although we let Llay grab a
lifeline on 39 minutes after a uncharacteristic mistake by
our keeper. Second half we dealt with everything Llay
threw at us and should have extended our early but it took
until the 76 minute for Tom Smith to grab a hat-trick in
consecutive weeks before Nathan Evans ran the whole length
of the pitch and latched on to a Steven Brooke pass before
coolly slotting the ball to the keepers right.
Saturday 7th January - Airbus UK (H) - League. D 3 -
3
First game back after the festive break and
against a strong Airbus side who like ourselves have
ambitions to win the league. Airbus elected to kick with
the wind in the first half and although they dominated
possession they never really created a clear chance. We
let them take advantage when a backpass was not dealt with
and it rebounded of there striker after 22 minutes. Airbus
extended there lead on 31 minutes when a 30 yard strike
caught our keeper out and dipped under the bar. We were
let off 5 minutes later when a 30 yard strike cannoned off
the upright. Second half we came out and Tom Smith pulled
a goal back on 48 and with the wind behind us we pinned
Airbus back and Tom Smith drew us level on 56 minutes. We
created chances through out the opening 25 minutes put
could'nt get our noses in front. With the game going into
injury time we had 4 consecutive corners going close
through first Ritchie Pierce and then through Gareth
Jones. On the fourth corner airbus broke free and scored
what looked the winner on 90+4, although there was a touch
of offside. The game looked over but the referee somewhere
found another 4 minutes and that allowed Tom Smith to grab
a leveler on 90+7 minutes.
Saturday 10th December - Gresford Athletic (H) -
League. W 3 - 0
After a week off the re-charge we needed to
get back to winning ways against a young Gresford side at
the foot of the table. We started on the front foot and
created a host of openings going agonisingly close on
numerous occasions with Jordan Smith, Tom Smith & Pete
Brown all going close. It took until the 42 minute to
break the dead lock with Tom Smith bagging his 20 league
goal to date. Second half and we started strong and when
Tom Smith layed the ball out wide to Jordan Smith he
delivered a pin-point cross for the advancing Pete Brown
to head home. We continued to create chances and rattled
the Gresford bar on more than one occasion, with the
defence remaining solid it was one-way traffic and up
popped Kev Edwards on 85 minutes to cement the win. A good
solid team performance with some outstanding individual
performances.
Saturday 26th November - Cefn Druids (H)
- League. D 3 - 3
This game seen us come up against many of the Penycae
U16's Cup wining side from last season and along with our
own youngsters in Che Daniels & Les Morris have taken
senior football in there stride. The game was played in
difficult conditions for both sides and Druids used the
wind to there advantage pinning us into our own half and
took a 12 minute lead through Ian Hughes. Druids had the
majority of chances in the opening 30 minutes but we came
back into the game and created chances with Aled Williams
hitting the post and Kev Edwards agonisingly close to
getting on a Tom Smith cross. We did draw level when the
ball fell to Steven Brooke in a crowded box on 38 minutes
he rolled the ball past two defenders before poking the
ball home. Second half was a case of keeping druids pinned
back and we started strong and took the lead on 55 minutes
when captain Sean Pemberton executed a perfect overhead
kick into the roof of the net. As has happened all to
often we failed to close the game down and allowed Druids
to get a equilizer on 62 minutes after some good
counter-attacking football. We created a host of chances
after that and were foiled by Jamie Bartlett in the Druids
goal on numerous occasions. We took the lead again on 83
minutes when Steven Brooke's shot rebound off the post to
hit him again and deflect in. We then allowed Druids a
leveller on 87 minutes by some slack defending. These were
3 points we needed today and may well have seen our title
ambitions severely dented.
Saturday 19th November - Chirk AAA (A) -
League. L 3 - 2
The top two clashed with Penycae needing the points as
Chirk AAA have games in hand. Neither team played any
flowing football and it turned into more of a battle than
a passing game. Chirk AAA started off the strongest and
maybe should have taken there chances as we took the lead
on 17 minutes as Tom Smith raced clear to slot home. Two
minutes later Smith extended our league in much the same
fashion. We had chances to extend our lead but could'nt
find the net. Chirk AAA were gifted a life line on 30
minutes when some poor defensive play allowed them to pull
one back before half time. Second half was a case of
staying compact and when the ball was lobbed back in to
the our box aimlessly on 55 minutes only for it to be
fumbled into our own net. Neither team created many
chances then until 75 minutes when Chirk AAA long ball
tactics payed off and a mix up in our back line allowed
there striker to lob into a empty net. The last ten
minutes we pushed for a leveler and where turned down our
appeals for a penalty when Leighton Edwards pulled down
Ian Mathias only for the referee to judge it being outside
the box. A disappointing result as we threw away a two
goal lead.
Saturday 12th November - Bala Town (H) - League Cup
Premilary round. W 5 - 0
Unusual fixture with having to qualify for the
League Cup but never the less a game between two teams who
have ambitions of winning league & Cup. Bala started
very much like the league encounter and dominated the
first 10 minutes, although without creating any clear
chances. We had chances of our own and hit the post from a
corner and Tom Smith rattled the Bala bar from 30 yards
but it was Pete Brown who broke the deadlock when on 13
minutes when he raced clear to slot it in the keeper's
bottom right corner. Bala continued to dominate possession
although on the 25 minute mark we did get a foot hold in
the game and extended our lead on 36 minutes through Tom
Smith. A own goal on 39 minutes allowed us to take a 3 - 0
into half time. Second half was about frustrating Bala and
we were soild as a defensive unit only allowing Bala to
play in there half. We managed to extend our lead on 82
minutes when a Tom Smith cross was sliced into the Bala
net by a Bala defender. The game was finished off on 90 +
2 minutes when Smith crossed for Kev Edwards to finish
with a glancing header. A fine team performance all round
and shows the strength of our squad this season.
Saturday 5th November - Hawarden Rgs (H) - League. W
6 - 0
With our rivals having a free week a victory
would have put us top so no less then 3 points was
required. We dominated possession through out the whole
game but never created any clear chances in the first
half, although our possession football was excellent, we
went in at half time one goal to the good after a Steven
Brookes shot was helped in by a Hawarden defender on 18
minutes. Second half was a different story and we created
chance after chance as we opened Hawarden up on numerous occasions
without finding the net. The introduction of Tom Smith on
60 minutes aided the goals as he scored his first on 64
and then added on 67 after a excellent diagonal ball from
his younger brother Jordan. Kev Edwards got on the score
sheet after 74 minutes following up a shot that the keeper
spilt before chipping the ball over the keeper. With
Hawarden now pinned back in there half as we controlled
the midfield Gareth Jones got on the score sheet as he
headed in from a Jordan Smith corner on 80 minutes before
the goal of the game on 90 minutes as Jordan Smith crossed
wide of the far post and Shaun Pemberton shouldered it
back across to the advancing Tom Smith to smash home from
10 yards to wrap up his hat-trick and his 17 of the
season.
Saturday 29th October - Airbus UK (A) - League. W 1
- 3
With the points dropped last week this was a
game we had to win to keep pace with the leading pack. We
started strongest and went close to opening the scoring
when Steven Brooke hit the post on 4 minutes from 8 yards
out. We dominated possession for the opening 15 minutes.
The game then settled into a battle for possession with
both defences well organised and preventing either team
producing any clear chances. With the first half looking
like ending 0 - 0 when on 45 minutes we won a corner and
Jordan Smith delivered for Ritchie Pierce to glance his
header into the top right hand corner. We started the
second half as we started the first and when Jordan Smith
won back possession from a Airbus defender and was up
ended in the box on 50 minutes up stepped Mikey Latham to
give the keeper no chance from 12 yards. With Latham
running the Airbus defence ragged all day it was'nt long
before we were 3 goals to the good as Latham cut in from
the left and drilled a low shot across goal which the
Airbus defender could only help into the net on 55
minutes. Airbus had half chances to get a goal back but
our midfield three never let them build any momentum.
Airbus did draw one back on 75 minutes when the ball fell
to one of there substitutions 25 yards out and he executed
a perfect volley into the back of the net leaving the
keeper no chance.
Saturday 22nd October - Lex XI (H) -
League. D 3 - 3
This was a must win game with a view of going to Airbus
next week right down there necks. The way we started the
game we looked solid and in control and when Tom Smith got
his customary goal to open the scoring on 9 minutes we
looked to extend our lead. We created chances through the
first half but sloppy finishing kept the score at 1 - 0
until 40 minutes when Lex X1 equalized. We took the lead
again 2 minutes later when Jordan Smith went clear to slot
the ball home. Second half we started strong and on 48
minutes we extended our lead when Pete Brown scored on 48
minutes. We should have closed the game down but again
poor finishing gave Lex XI heart and they got a goal back
on 67 minutes to make it 3 - 2. We then lost all shape and
gave away possession in midfield to often and allowed Lex
to take control of the game and it was no surprise when
the drew level on 83 minutes. The only team who looked
like winning this game was Lex although we almost nicked
it when Gareth Jones went close in the last minute from a
header. A disappointing result and two points
dropped.
Saturday 15th October - Coedpoeth United
(A) - League. W 1 - 9
This game produced some of the best attacking football
we have played this season, as well as some contenders for
goals of the season. We started the stronger team but
struggled to create a clear opening before Kev Edwards
opened the scoring on 15 minutes, before adding a bullet
header to his tally on 19 minutes. Some excellent
interlinking play down the right between Che Daniels &
Pete Brown allowed Edwards to seal his hat-trick on 31
minutes. We were dominating possession and when we were
awarded a free kick from 25 yards out Jack Johnson stepped
up to drill a brilliant strike into to top left corner.
Edwards then grabbed his forth on 43 to take his tally to
ten and eight in his last four appearances. Second half
was about maintaining the momentum of the first but it
took until the 43 minute to grab the first goal of the
half after Les Morris was up ended in the box with Jordan
Smith slotting the penalty into the bottom corner. The
game went flat and we conceded a O.G on 78 minutes due to
a lack of communication between keeper & defence. We
extended our lead on 79 minutes when Aled Williams cut in
from the left and smashed the ball into the keepers top
corner from 30 yards. Coedpoeth's luck did'nt improve as
they conceded a O.G on 84 minutes. A corner in the last
minute produced the last goal of the game as Ritchie
Pierce dispatched a over head kick into the net from 8
yards.
Saturday 8th October - Gresford Athletic (A) -
League. W 1 - 6
After the disappointment of the last two weeks
no less than 3 points was needed here against a Gresford
team struggling at the foot of the table. We started off
in a determined manner but looked frustrated from the kick
- off and allowed Gresford to sneak a lead on 4 minutes.
During the half we created chances but were frustrated by
bad luck, when a Kev Edwards equalizer was adjudged to
have been off side, it looked as though we would'nt draw
level as we seem to have no urgency in our football. A few
choice words at half-time and we looked a different team
playing our game of swift accurate football which left
Gresford in tatters as we ran 6 goals in in 33 minutes,
the first coming with Nick Jones opening his account as he
hooked the ball home. We then took the lead when young
Ryan Jones tied the full back in knots and delivered a
excellent first time cross that the defender could only
steer into his own net. 4 minutes later we extended our
lead when Tom Smith drew a good save from the Gresford
keeper but he could only parry the ball into Steven
Brookes path. Tom Smith then got his usual goals on 67
& 78, the second being a excellent curling shot with
his left foot into the top corner from 20 yards. Rounding
up the scoring was Pete Brown who opened his account on 87
minutes with a thunderous drive that gave the keeper no
chance. A good second half performance, a bit more
ruthless in front of goal and we could have had more goals
but we came for 3 points and bagged them.
Saturday 1st October - Corwen (A) - League. D 3 - 3
After the disappointment of last weeks result
and performance we were looking to bounce back with 3
points away to a Corwen side who lye one place below us.
We started the game well but on 4 minutes a we conceded a
O.G when a back pass took a bobble as we looked to play it
back to Chris Checkley, making his debut, and went
straight over his head leaving him stranded. We looked to
bounce back but on 7 minutes conceded another soft
goal when we lost possession in a 2 v 2 defensive area to
allow Corwen a rather lucky two goal lead. We bounced
straight back on 8 minutes with Kev Edwards grabbing his
third goal in 2 games. We looked the better team and with
Corwen reduced to long ball tactics we started to create
half chances before we fell asleep on 25 minutes to allow
Corwens left winger a free run into the box to smash home.
Half time 3 - 1. We came out the second half and dominated
and were frustrated by Corwens defence. Every chance
seemed to go wide by inches every through pass flicked off
one of the Corwen defenders heels. We created chance after
chance and when Tom Smith raced clear to smash his 11 goal
of the season in there only looked one team who was going
to go on to win. In the 73 minute we allowed Corwen a
great chance which brought a superb reaction save from
Checkley to deny them from 15 yards. We created chance
after chance and on 85 minutes Kev Edwards smashed home
the equalizer. Unfortunately we could'nt grab the winner
we deserved. This was a case of 2 points dropped rather
than 1 gained and hopefully the lads will be looking to
get back to winning ways at Gresford next saturday
Saturday 24th September - Ruthin Town (A) - League.
D 3 - 3
Although Ruthin are yet to win in this season
they have only lost 2 and drew the rest so we expected a
difficult game. Unfortunately we struggled to find our
feet through out the game and hadn't created a chance of
real note when we allowed Ruthin to take a deserved lead
from a corner after 22 minutes. Ruthin stopped us playing
and when Kev Edwards bundled over from 5 yards on 31
minutes it was our first notable chance. Within 3 minutes
of the re-start we allowed the Ruthin right back to carry
the ball 30 yards before he laid it to there striker who
had time to curl the ball into the corner. Second half we
started to play more football and created some good
openings but it took until the 62 minute when Kev Edwards
drew us level with a fine finish. After that we looked as
though we would go on to win it when Sean Pemberton netted
with 10 minutes remaining before we lost our concentration
to allow Ruthin a late equalizer.
Saturday 17th September - Bala Town (H) - League. W
4 - 0
This was a game against a team who, like ourselves,
have ambitions of winning the league this season. Bala
started the strongest and within the first 20 minutes
created a host of chances which called Tony Gandy in goal
into action. When we were awarded a free kick against the
run of play just inside the Bala half Steven Wyn Jones
lobbed the ball forward for our captain Shaun Pemberton to
volley, on the turn, into the bottom corner on the half
hour. We then started to settle into our game. We came out
the second half and when the ball came to Tom Smith's
chest 35 yards from goal on 46 minutes he does what he
does best and unleashed a volley straight into the bottom
corner. We then took the game to Bala and were the
stronger team. The third goal was a bit cruel on Bala but
when Nathan Evans swung in a corner which they failed to
clear and it went straight into the Bala goal. We then
took the game to the visitors and when Kev Edwards picked
the ball up 30 yards out and played a perfectly weighted
pass into Ian Bowyer-Jones's path before making up the
ground to get onto a perfectly weighted cross from
Bowyer-Jones.
Saturday 10th September - Castell AC (A) -
League. W 1 - 4
A game that was as much about battling the
weather as it was battling the opposition. We played good
football from the start with patient passing along the
floor and it wasnt a surprise when Shaun Barlow raced
clear to lob the ball over the keeper on 12 minutes to
break the dead lock. Although we did have chances to
extend the lead it took a header from Tom Smith on 22
minutes to extend our lead. On 38 minutes a freak goal for
Castell AC when a clearance by the Castell defender picked
up pace with the wind a went over our Keeper to give them
a life line. Second half we struggled for fluency in our
football and although Castell rarely threatened our goal
we did have the cutting edge to get through them until 77
minutes when Ryan Jones slotted through the keepers legs
for his first of the season. Ten minutes later on 87
minutes the game was buried as Les 'Strachan' Morris
produced a mazy run in the Castell box before slotting it
home to open his account for the season.
Saturday 3rd September - Llay Welfare (H) - League.
W 6 - 0
A nightmare weekend for both teams with regard
to lads availability, even Gav Bowen & Stan had to
come out of retirement. We managed to scrape eleven
players together with 3 points needed we played some of
our best football this season. With the defence preventing
llay from having any clear chances on goal it allowed the
strikers to add to our tally with Tom Smith & Steven
Brooke, opening his account for the season, adding a brace
each, Ian Bowyer-Jones & Ritchie Pierce grabbing there
first goals of the season. Hopefully a settled week and we
can go to Castell AC next week with a full squad and add
to our points tally to keep us up within the leading
pack..
Saturday 27th August - Venture (A) - League. D 1 - 1
This was always going to be a tough game as
Venture have made a good start to the new season. From the
off we looked threatening but Venture dealt everything we
had so it was a relieve when Sean Reid followed up a 20
yard volley from Danny Wildman, which the keeper could'nt
hold, to grab his third for the season on 12 minutes.
After that we took created chances to extend our lead but
couldnt hit the target and only two excellent saves from
our Richard Cowederoy in goal and a goal line clearance
for Ritchie Pierce kept the score at 1 - 0 at the
interval, The second half we were hampered by picking up
injuries with Jack Johnson, Danny Wildman both having to
be subsituted. Venture started to get a hold on the game
and looked more menacing but were prevented by our defence
from having a clear chance, when Ritchie Pierce came off
injured we had to finish the last 20 minutes with 10 men
after using all our substitutes. This caused Venture to
raise there game, and although we hit the post through
Steven Brooke, they got there equalizer on 77 minutes.
After that we held firm to gain a deserved point.
Wednesday 24th August - Overton (H) - League. W 3 -
0
After the heavy defeat on the weekend it was
important we replied by getting 3 points and putting in a
good performance. Although Penycae won by 3 goals courtesy
of Tom Smith (2) & Kev Edwards. Overton will
count themselves lucky as Penycae squandered a host of
chances.
Saturday 20th August - Chirk AAA (H) - League. L 0 -
6
In the derby encounter at Penycae, they were
turned over 6 - 0 by a rampant Chirk AAA’s who netted
through Matty Thompson(2), Shaun Morris, Jay James, Dan
Currie and a penalty from skipper Jamie Foulkes. Penycae
were reduced to 10 men and brought back to earth by a
fitter Chirk side.
Wednesday 17th August - Rhos Aelwyd (A) - League. W
1 - 2
This was always going to be a exciting game
and was just that as teams wrestled for early possession.
We started to get into our stride after 10 minutes and
went close on a few occasions before Tom Smith raced clear
on 20 minutes to find the bottom corner of the Rhos net.
After that Rhos had the majority of possession without
creating to many chances as our defence and midfield held
strong to keep the scoreline 1 nil at the interval. Second
half we started to dictate play again and when Dave Powell
dispatched a 25 yard shot into the back of the Rhos net we
looked to be comfortable. Unfortunately Rhos were given a
life line when we failed to clear a corner and allowed
Rhos to get one back. In the next 10 minutes we had
chances to win it with Shaun Barlow forcing Ian Ankers, in
goal for Rhos, into a excellent save and Steven Brooke
hitting the post. The last 5 minutes Rhos had chances when
a excellently taken free-kick rebounded off the post and a
free kick in the last seconds whistled over everyones
head. Another 3 points on the board and even sweeter ones
than last week!
Saturday 13th August - Hawarden
Rangers (A) - League. W 1 - 5
The first game of what is sure to be a competitive
league. We started the game well and when Tom Smith ran
through to coolly slot home after 4 minutes we looked to
have settled, but only poor finishing from Hawarden
preventing them from taking the lead. On the 20 minute
mark we began to dictate play and when Smith ran through
on 30 minutes to bag his second we were in control and
should have bagged a few more before Smith grabbed his
hat-trick on 41 minutes to give us a commanding 3 - 0
half-time lead. Second half started as we finished the
first before we took our foot off and a gas and allowed
Hawarden to get back into the game and dominate the last
30 minutes, a quick break allowed Hawarden to get a goal
back on 73 minutes. The last 5 minutes belonged to Penycae
as Sean Reid extended our lead on 86 & 89, the first
of came on the end of some excellent football which
resulted in Steven Brooke chip the ball for Reid to take
on his chest before lobbing the Hawarden keeper from 12
yards.