Llandyrnog Summer League: Llandyrnog vs. Cefn

A rare picture that contains a football.

It was a big game tonight as the top two collided for the first time this season, as both teams were unbeaten prior to tonight it was a good opportunity for each team to inflict a loss on the enemy. Unfortunately neither team was able to do that as the game ended in a 3-3 draw.

The match had barely started when Cefn scored the Cae Nant's first away goal of the season as the Number 9 profited from some lax defending to roll the ball past the onrushing Daniel Jones and into the far corner. It was a disappointing start for Llandyrnog who didn't seem to have come out of the dressing room.

The goal did lift Llandyrnog, playing in the old school white kit to save clashing with Cefn (it's so old school I wore it in my last under 16's tournament for the village and I'm almost 30), with Danny Porter testing the keeper with a snap shot from the edge of the 18 yard box after showing some good feet. Craig Jones, sporting a sleeker haircut and chastising himself far less in this game, was next to go close when his glancing header sailed inches wide after a superb ball in by ~~Peter Pan~~ Mally Hughes. Craig came close again within a few minutes when his attempt at a cross to the back post almost dropped nicely inside said post.

Cefn threatened momentarily and almost scored as one of the midfielders attempted to head the ball in the net but was penalised for a shove on Tom Evans (it may not have been Tom because I didn't write it in my notes but I think it was Tom).

Dyrny leveled things up moments later when Brandon Keating poked home after Tudur Morris had lofted in a great free kick from just inside the Cefn half that Danny Porter managed to flick on. It was a just reward for the Cae Nant men as they began to get a grip on the game.

The game was a bit stop start for the next 5 or 10 minutes as Tom Evans and the Cefn Number 6 exchanged some proper challenges and a few verbals and a head injury to Emyr Jones, that brought a bit of the red stuff out, delayed things a little further. The next event of note was Llandyrnog getting themselves in front through Danny Porter, as he wriggled a shot (can I call a shot a wriggler?) into the bottom left hand corner following some great work from Craig Jones, who kept his feet well when he could have gone down before slotting Porter in to his right on the overlap.

The second half started well for Llandyrnog and they could have extended their lead when Dan Porter beat 4 players before being denied by a great last ditch tackle from one of the Cefn back four as he prepared to pull the trigger.

Unfortunately for us Llandyrnog boys, Cefn were next to score as Cefn's #4 calmly tucked a penalty into the right hand side after Mally Hughes had run across an attacker in the box, halting his attempt to get to the ball. It was a fair decision to be honest and as much as I'd like to deny it, I can't. Mally was then kind enough to give his name to the young referee when a little dissent ensured he picked up his first yellow of the season.

Conceding another goal again seemed to lift Llandyrnog and Craig Jones went close for a third time as he latched on to a lofted ball as it neared the by-line and attempted to knock the ball over the keeper only to be clattered and see his effort narrowly miss. The Whites (at least for this game) were in soon after though when the referee again took centre stage (although he was centre stage by virtue of the shininess of his kit which he'd clearly had form his parents last Christmas) by awarding a penalty to the home team. Brandon Keating being hacked down on the far side as he broke clear in the box, again it was a stone wall penalty and the young ref was spot on in his decision. The in-form Keating stepped up to take the penalty only to see it saved by the Cefn keeper before reacting quicker than anyone else and scrambling home the rebound which was perhaps harsh on the keeper. A relieved Jimmy McNally had the following to say:-

"The big bastard nearly saved it!"

Whilst not exactly Shakespearean in his verbalisation of events the sentiment was exactly right. It was a close one.

Aside from a close shave wherein a Cefn player nipped in front of Dyrny keeper Daniel Jones' attempted punch to head over the bar, the home side were in the ascendancy from this point on and began to create chances at will. Phil Hinchcliffe's pile driver soliciting a good save from the Cefn gloveman which was then followed by Patrick Hinchcliffe hooking a shot agonisingly wide as he picked up the ball after the keeper failed to hold a rasping Dan Porter effort from distance.

Porter himself went close as he hassled a defender into making a mistake only for the opposition goalkeeper to save smartly. The Cefn #1 again denied Llandyrnog harder than a TV personality from the 70's denies sexual allegations (too soon?) when he superbly stopped a low Pat Hinchcliffe effort as Dan Porter made a nuisance of himself in the box.

Completely against the run of play Cefn made it 3 a piece as one of their own finished neatly off the near-side post. I didn't see who it was and I was too annoyed to try and find out. They equalised and we'll leave it at that, it's a Llandyrnog blog and I'll be as one sided as I like.

Jimmy McNally's team searched in vain for a last minute winner and were kept at bay by the frustratingly effective Cefn keeper. A couple of goalmouth scrambles didn't quite fall the way of the home team and the ref blew for full time. It was most certainly a case of two points lost for Llandyrnog and one gained for top of the league Cefn, who celebrated loudly (I think I even saw John Terry in a Cefn kit,too late?) at the final whistle with the point the gained whilst the Llandyrnog boys looked like they'd been beaten. Unfortunately there where too many little mistakes in the game for Llandyrnog and Cefn capitalised on those, on another night it would have been a comfortable win but it wasn't another night so we settle for the point.

The Man of the Match award goes to Phil Hinchcliffe, who has now played up top as well as centre mid and centre back, he tirelessly put himself about and dominated in the air, flicking on for the lively Porter and Keating time and time again. Phil also held the ball up very well when necessary and is a great general to have on the pitch. Craig Jones, Danny Porter, and Tom Evans all deserve a mention too and young Chris Evans was very good when he came on as a second half substitute and caught the eye with a mazy run but Phil takes the award.

The Llandyrnog team was:-

Daniel Jones
Tudur Morris, Russ Moorcroft, Emyr Jones, Mally Hughes
Craig Jones, Tom Evans, Patrick Hinchcliffe, Brandon Keating
Phil Hinchcliffe, Dan Porter

I didn't take many photos, or rather I did and they are mainly blurry but here are a couple that weren't as blurry.