Ysceifiog vs. Llandyrnog

Llandyrnog picked up their second victory in as many games tonight with a 2-1 victory up at the always tricky Ysceifiog. Conditions were tough for the lads as the wind swirled around on a pitch very much open to the elements but a third of the campaign from Danny Roberts and a second of the season for Dan Porter were enough to see Llandyrnog through.

The action started off brightly enough for Llandyrnog as they enjoyed the lion's share of possession without really putting a sound Ysceifiog back line under real pressure. With Tom Evans winning the ball in the centre of the park time and again for his side and distributing well to Man of The Match (for my money anyway) Dan Porter, who then linked up well with Danny Roberts and the lively Brandon Keating certainly looked like it may cause Ysceifiog all sorts of problems in the opening twenty minutes. Unfortunately for Llandyrnog though Ysceifiog managed to restrict them to long rage efforts or snap shots as strikers Josh Davies and Keating worked hard to create a yard of space in behind an energetic backline.

The breakthrough came courtesy of a Danny Roberts header with an assist from captain Tudur Morris midway through the first half. Morris delivered in a wicked ball from the wide right position ideal to attack. Roberts followed the flight of the ball nicely and when the Ysceifiog keeper hesitated in coming to claim, he ensured he was on hand to nod it over the line.

It wasn't long after that Dan Porter, who's influence on the game had been growing considerably, added the second. After receiving the ball from the evergreen Mally Hughes, Porter ghosted past two players before slotting the ball in to the far right corner from 20 yards.

The lads celebrate what I think was Porter's goal but he's being ignored so maybe not.

For the remainder of the first half the game turned a little scrappy, the wind started to have an influence as the ball kept drifting out of play and the rhythm of the game was disrupted with what I could only describe as some unusual decisions from the referee (although I am massively biased). Three Llandyrnog players, all of whom are in the picture above, were put on final warnings for various disagreements with the official.

At half time Luke Humphreys replaced Josh Davies who was carrying a knock, but the change didn't really change the pattern of play. The second half was very stop start and mainly played just inside the Ysceifiog half as the Llandyrnog backline of Tudur Morris, Russ Moorcroft, Adam Lloyd, and Mally Hughes protected goalkeeper Danny Jones from any meaningful action. With 25 minutes to go John Jones replaced Mally Hughes. With John's arrival Llandyrnog seemed to create a bit more down the right hand side, with himself, Craig Jones, and Luke Humphreys all combining well as they looked to put a little more on the scoreboard. It was Ysceifiog though who scored next as DJ emphatically buried a penalty into the Llandyrnog net after John Jones had fouled in the box.

That was really all the action the game had to offer, Tom Evans picked up the booking the referee had threatened all night before Dan Porter made his own bizarre entry into the referee's book as he was penalised for a comment he made to an Ysceifiog player that misinterpreted to be aimed at the referee.

Whilst some good football was played at times, this was not Llandyrnog at their best but a spirited Ysceifiog on a difficult pitch is always a tough test so the three points is more than welcome.

For all the Summer League statisticians out there I can confirm that the power-lines that hang over the pitch in Ysceifiog only had two touches in the game, quite a quiet night for them really.

Also have another photo or two because I took loads (most are blurred because of how cold it is up there though) so I might as well use them.

Brandon Keating levitates his way through the defence

That is not the moon in the distance, that's a shot on goal

Thanks for reading

Paul