News Archive : 2001/2002
January

Report: Rhyl 1 Afan Lido 0
The Lilywhites started the second half of the season with a valuable win against a workmanlike Lido side, known to have scuppered Rhyl's hopes many times in the past. With the ground shaping up well after an overnight thaw, clear-cut chances were rare for both sides, although Rhyl will claim that they had two valid claims for penalties  before eventually seeing a Lido defender put into his own net eight minutes before time. Nick Welton provided the cross and John Stannard was ready to pounce had the defender not got there before him. Not a classic match but a welcome win nonetheless.

RHYL: Paul Smith, Webster, Coathup, Jackson, Brewerton, Hennigan (A Jones), R Williams, Nick Brookman, Steve Futcher, Andy Green, Andy Moran (Welton).

Att: 251

Newport County Match On
Rhyl FC have lowered admission prices for tonight's FAW Premier Cup game against FA Cup heroes Newport County to £4 Adults, £2 OAPS and £1 Kids. Kick Off is at 7:30pm.

Disappointing end to Cup campaign
Report: Rhyl 1 Newport County 2
The final Group game was completed tonight at Belle Vue, when Newport County with a young team, won to claim top spot in Group B from Carmarthen Town.
In the first half, Rhyl dominated play with plenty of goal mouth action at both ends, although the visitors always threatened on the break. The nearest the home team came to scoring was when Andy Moran hit the bar from just 2/3 yards.
The home team were punished 5 mins before the interval when Lewis Summers, holding off Colin Webster, powered home a shot from 12 yards.
Newport increased their lead in the 49th minute when Alfie Carter turned in the box to convert a left wing cross. When seemingly in cruise control, Rhyl got one back with Gareth Wilson shooting into the top corner, but they couldn't get an equaliser despite some pressure. In fact, the visitors had the best chance late in the game when Lewis Summers somehow contrived to miss after rounding the keeper.
Newport's victory will set them in good heart for the quarter final next week, when they try to overcome Swansea City at Spytty Stadium.

RHYL: Jamie Jones, Webster, Coathup, Jackson, Brewerton, A Jones, J Stannard, Mick Jones (N Brookman), Nick Welton, Andy Moran (Allan Jones), G Wilson.

Final Table:

Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	GD
Newport County	6	4	2	0	8	3	14	5
Carmarthen Town	6	4	1	1	6	2	13	4
Rhyl	6	1	2	3	6	9	5	-3
Cwmbran Town	6	0	1	5	5	11	1	-6
.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.

Derby woe!
Report: Bangor City 3 Rhyl 0 (LoW)
DISJOINTED Rhyl could have no complaints about the scoreline after a game in which they rarely threatened the home goal.
The lack of firepower is a cause for concern at Belle Vue with new strikers Andy Moran and Andy Green failing to find the form that attracted the interest of manager Lee Williams.
We were obviously very disappointed after the game, said Williams.
We made three individual errors and they scored three goals from them. Billy Stewart held his hand up after the game to his mistake which gifted them the opening goal but he was superb after that and kept us in the game, he said.
Bangor had the lions share of play in the first half and their only reward was a soft goal from leading scorer Marc Lloyd Williams.
A Simon Davies shot was fumbled by Stewart and Lloyd Williams pounced to fire home from 10 yards.
After the break Rhyl came into the game but couldnt find a way through the Bangor defence.
The introduction of Nick Welton and Ricky Otto gave Rhyl more options and pace up front and with 12 minutes left it looked as though they might snatch an equaliser. Then came the fateful minute which decided the game.
First Michael Jackson missed a header, and with the rest of the defence too square, in nipped Lloyd Williams for his second.
Virtually straight from the kick off Paul Roberts raced into the Rhyl penalty area only to be fouled by Jackson and from the spot kick Lloyd Williams completed his hat trick and sealed Rhyls fate.
We were too flat at the back, said Williams.
Against the pace of Lloyd Williams we needed to be sharper than that and we paid the price.
Rhyl: Stewart, Webster, Jackson, Brewerton (Welton), Coathup, Brookman, Stannard, R Williams, Hinnigan (Futcher),Green (Otto), Moran.

(Report courtesy of Doug Mortimer, RhylJournal.co.uk)

Park End Stand Completed!

Rhyl Football Club are pleased to announce that the new stand, which covers the entire length of the Park End, and has covered accommodation for 800 people, has been completed. It will be ready for use at the game against Rhayader on the 26th of January, becoming the most impressive "behind the goal" covered standing area in the League of Wales.

(Photo of the stand during construction by Nick Gausden)

Away travel to Port Talbot
The coach for Port Talbot leaves Belle Vue at 8am on Saturday. Supporters should phone Dave Armstrong on 01745 337434 to book their seats.

Preview: Port Talbot v Rhyl (Sat, 2:30pm)
Rhyl manager Lee Williams has fond memories of Port Talbot. It was at the Victoria Ground last season that he took control of his first game as manager, celebrating his appointment with a 6-1 victory. Two homes games against Port Talbot since have generated two more wins, 4-3 last season and 3-1 at Belle Vue last September, and Rhyl have also won at Port Talbot already this season, beating Cwmbran Town 3-2 with a last minute Steve Futcher effort in the FAW Premier Cup.

Past form is no guide however, for Rhyl have been blighted by inconsistency of late and are in desperate need of a tonic to give the season a much needed boost. Port Talbot are also in the middle of a revival, having recently beaten Bangor City and drawn at Connah's Quay last weekend. 

With no injuries to report after last weekend's match at Bangor, and the introduction of Ricky Otto, the former Birmingham City wingman to the ranks, Lee Williams will be hoping that his 100% record will be intact on Saturday evening. The coach leaves Belle Vue at 8am, the team does value your support so if you can make it down for this crucial match then please do so.

Record Intact - 100th League of Wales win!
Report: Port Talbot 2 Rhyl 3 (LoW)

Two killer strikes in the last fifteen minutes sealed a memorable win for Rhyl after they struggled to assert themselves against a lively Port Talbot team. Rhyl took an early lead on three minutes when John Stannard was found in acres of space by a Hennigan pass and he rounded goalkeeper Scantlebury before slotting home. The hosts came back strongly, and equalised five minutes before the interval when Lee Coathup was adjudged to have brought down a Port Talbot striker in the box.  Bartley rammed home the resulting penalty. Worse was to come on the stroke of half-time, Fleming making the most of some in-decision in the Rhyl defence to put the hosts 2-1 up.

Rhyl made little headway in the second half until a two goal salvo on 72 and 75 minutes sealed victory. Both came from the left wing, the first from a cross which found the unmarked John Stannard on the right. Scantlebury got his hands to the ball but the shot was too powerful and landed in the back of the net. The third and winning goal came from Andy Moran, who made the most of a Scantlebury fumble to scoop the ball into the net. Rhyl were put under pressure at the death, but had the best chance of scoring when Moran rounded Scantlebury only to see his shot flash wide of the post.

The win makes it 4/4 for Lee Williams against Port Talbot, and also registers Rhyl's 100th win in the League of Wales.

RHYL: B Stewart, C Webster, L Coathup (Welton 45'), Jackson, Brewerton, Hennigan, Stannard (Wilson 80'), Brookman, Moran, Green, Otto.

Att: 126

Youth make it to Final
Rhyl Youth 2 Bangor City Youth 0 (aet)
Rhyl beat rivals Bangor City in the semi-final of the NWCFA Youth Cup. The match was goalless at the end of ninety minutes. Mike Roose fired the young Lilywhites early in the first period of extra time and minutes from the end of the second period Aidy Hoyle got the ball by the corner flag, beating two men he took the ball up the line and slotted past the keeper for a great individual goal. The game was well supported by Rhyl fans. Rhyl now play Connahs Quay Nomads Youth in the final at a date and venue to be decided.

Goal shy Rhyl surrender half-time lead
Report: Rhyl 1 Rhayader Town 1
Bottom of the table Rhayader were delighted to come away from Belle Vue with a point, but could so easily have taken all three if Billy Stewart hadn't pulled of a superb save from Mardenborough right at the end.

It had looked so rosey for Rhyl at half-time.  Andy Moran's spot-kick after a handling offence putting Rhyl 1-0 up, and with the team creating so many goalscoring chances it seemed only a matter of time before this lead would be extended. They couldn't make it count however, with goalkeeper Morgan saving well from a Moran drive, Green failing to reach a ball that was fed across an unmarked goal and a hatful of other clearcut chances going begging.

Rhyl fans expected their team to increase the lead after the break but were given an almighty shock when some gritty play from Rhayader saw them draw level.  Andy Kish rose unmarked to head home from a corner after 50mins.  Rhyl attacked in numbers, with centre-back Brewerton getting in on the act with three consecutive shots on goal! For all the pressure, Morgan was only forced into making a handful of saves, and one of these from a speculative cross ball that caught the wind and looked like creeping in. Rhayader ended the game strongly, and looked to have scored a winner until the timely intervention of Billy Stewart at the death.

RHYL: B Stewart, C Webster (N Welton), L Coathup, M Jackson, J Brewerton, G Hennigan (G Wilson), J Stannard, N Brookman, A Moran, A Green, M Cross

Attendance: 162

Fixture Change
Rhyl's match at Llansantffraid, scheduled for Saturday at 2:30pm, has been brought forward. It will now take place at 7:45pm on Friday. Our apologies for the short notice.

Web Site back "on-form"
Apologies to regulars for the sporadic availability of this site over the past two days. These problems have now been corrected.

Coast FA Challenge Cup
Rhyl have been drawn at home to Vale of Clwyd rivals Denbigh Town. The fixture will take place at Belle Vue on Tuesday, 12th of February, 2002. Kick-Off 7:30pm.