News Archive : 2001/2002
April

Quay v Rhyl match cancelled!
This is no April Fool's joke. The Deeside Stadium pitch was deemed to be too rutted for the game to go ahead by the referee,  and with the players safety in mind he had no other option but to postpone the game.

It has now been re-arranged for Thursday, 25th April at 7:30pm. Weather permitting.

Sponsored walk success
Rhyl Supporters' Association members Bryn, Glyn, Gary and Colin successfully walked from Rhyl to Connah's Quay, arriving at 1:15pm. They managed to raise over £500 for the club, which is a tremendous achievement. Our thanks go to them and their sponsors for making the event so worthwhile.

Don't  write us off yet - Europe still a possibility!
Cwmbran Town 0 Rhyl 3
Rhyl showed again how unpredictable they can be with a convincing display at the Cwmbran Stadium. First half goals from centre-back James Brewerton and Matthew Cross were complimented by Lee Spike's long awaited first goal in the second half. With Carmarthen beating Caersws and Aberystwyth having to settle for a draw, Rhyl are still in fourth position, four points clear, and with Bangor City and Barry Town finalists in the Welsh Cup, that would mean qualification for the Inter-Toto Cup!

RHYL: L.Williams, Brookman, Coathup, Webster, Brewerton, Wilson (Allan Jones 78'), Stannard, Andy Jones, Moran (Maguire 90'), Spike (A.Davies 87'), Cross.

Attendance: 143.

Welsh Cup Semi-final at Belle Vue
Our congratulations go to Bangor City, who cruised through their semi-final at Belle Vue 5-0. A large crowd enjoyed another superb performance from goal-machine Marc Lloyd-Williams as he notched a fine hat-trick. Burgess and Craig Roberts added the other two. Druids missed some clear-cut chances in the first half but were beaten by a stronger team on the day. Bangor now face Barry Town in the final at Aberystwyth in May.

Rhyl Football Club is proud to have hosted today's game, and wish to thank the supporters of both clubs for making the day run so smoothly.

League of Wales Round-up
Results did not go Rhyl's way in tonight's round of LoW matches. Caersws fought off a determined Caernarfon team to gain a 2-1 victory, and Connah's Quay managed to draw 2-2 courtesy of a penalty equaliser from Stuart Terry five minutes before the end. Rhyl are still fourth but Caersws are now only one point away and have TWO games in hand.

Caersws' fixtures for the rest of the season are;

Home: Rhayader, Port Talbot
Away:  Connah's Quay, Afan Lido, TNS-Llansantffraid.

Inter-Toto Cup Draw
Should Rhyl manage to hold onto fourth place, a trip to Bulgaria will beckon in the Inter-toto Cup. The Bulgarian season doesn't finish until the end of May so their entrants are unknown, but these are the teams competing in their Championship League; Levski Sofia,  Litex Lokomotiv Plovdiv CSKA Sofia  Neftohimik Bourgas  Slavia Sofia
First round matches are scheduled for the weekends of 22nd and 29th June. The game in Bulgaria will take place on the 22nd of June.

U-14's Girls Match
A much more experienced Everton team came away with a 8-0 victory at Belle Vue in Sunday's friendly. A good crowd, nearing some 200, saw Rhyl battle hard in the face of adversity.

Crisis looms ahead of Carmarthen Clash
Three to go - Preview: Rhyl v Carmarthen Town (Sat, 2:30pm)
Suspensions will mean that Rhyl field an almost brand new back line for tomorrow's crucial game against Carmarthen at Belle Vue. Steve Futcher, Michael Jackson and James Brewerton are all ruled out by suspension for a game that Rhyl must win to keep alive any hopes of European qualification. Nick Welton looks like returning to the fold, and Phil McDiarmud could be in line for his first outing of the season.

Carmarthen have beaten Rhyl three times already this season, and with new striker Keaveney in superb form - striking seven goals in the last three games - will be keen for a win to boost their own Premier Cup qualification hopes.

Points make prizes at this stage of the season, so come along and give the team your support for what promises to be an exciting encounter.

Sofia so good!
Report: Rhyl 3 Carmarthen 1 (LoW)
Carmarthen were dealt a blow shortly before kick-off when goalkeeper Alex Davies withdrew from the team due to illness. This meant that manager Tommy Morgan took over between the posts. He was rarely troubled in the first half with his outfield players working like trojans to protect the back-line. He was beaten only once, on 28 minutes when a Matthew Cross free-kick sailed over the wall and into the top right hand corner of the net. Carmarthen grabbed a shock equaliser moments before the interval, Shaun Capple's cross feeding O'Brien and he saw his firm header loop into the net.

Rhyl created more after the break, but still found it hard to break down the visitor's defence. The turning point of the game came on 54 minutes when a right-wing cross was headed over Tommy Morgan's head by Barnhouse, only to be cleared off the line by I. Davies with his arm. Davies was sent-off, and Andy Moran made sure from the penalty spot ... 2-1 to Rhyl. Carmarthen, even with ten men, pressed for an equaliser but were caught on a breakaway when Moran broke through to fire under Morgan on 86 minutes.

It was hard work for Rhyl, but three points in the bag nonetheless, and with Caersws losing two games over the weekend, it is now only Cwmbran and Connah's Quay that can overtake Rhyl if they win their games in hand.

RHYL: L.Williams,Webster,Coathup,Brookman,Allan Jones, Wilson, Stannard, Andy Jones, Moran (Welton 89'), Spike, Cross.

Attendance: 269

Tension mounts as Rhyl enter last week of season
Two to go - Preview of Rhyl v Haverfordwest (Sat, 2:30pm)

Expect a battle at Belle Vue tomorrow!  Rhyl need no less than the three points if they are to retain an outside chance of European qualification, while County need three to push themselves a little further away from Oswestry at the foot of the table. Games between the two sides are always end-to-end affairs, with Rhyl having the best results over the last two years; achieving a double last season and winning at the New Bridge Meadow last December. Rhyl will again be without Jackson and Brewerton, and midfield powerhouse Gareth Wilson will also be unavailable after picking up a knock in last week's victory against Carmarthen. Steve Futcher will be back in contention, and another 35-yarder like his goal at Haverfordwest last December would be most welcome.

It's important that Rhyl fans get behind the team tomorrow, a good result will set us up for the last game of the season at Connah's Quay next Thursday.

Make some Noise!! - "Sunny Rhyl, Sunny Rhyl........"

Lady luck smiles upon Rhyl as Moran gets last gasp winner!
Report: Rhyl 2 Haverfordwest 1 (LoW)
It seemed most unlikely, with ten minutes to go, that Rhyl would rescue this game. With Haverfordwest in the ascendency and pressing for a winner to ease their relegation worries, Rhyl were struggling to make any headway against a resolute rearguard. Then, with barely seconds on the clock, substitute Nick Welton fed Moran, and from the acutest of angles his cross-cum-shot flew over goalkeeper Mainwaring's outsretched arms and into the top right hand corner of the net. Delirious scenes greeted the goal and the final whistle shortly afterwards. With one game to go, Rhyl are still in with a strong chance of European football - but must rely on Cwmbran, who play three games in the next week to slip up.

Carving out results when you're not playing too well is a sign of a good side, and after a goalless first half, Rhyl were gifted their first goal on Saturday. Lee Spike chased a ball and rather tamely hit it goalwards. Goalkeeper Woodhouse, to everyone's surprise, caught the ball before contriving to turn it into his own net! The Blues were on level terms within ten minutes when Heall shot though a ruck of players. Rhyl's best chances afterwards fell to Allan Jones, when his long-range drive was cleared off the line, and Steve Futcher who saw his effort come off the bar. In the dying moments then came the goal that will live long in memory!

Connah's Quay now on Thursday. If Cwmbran lose to either Lido or Port Talbot, and Rhyl win at Nomads then it will guarantee a trip to Bulgaria in June.

RHYL: L Williams, Webster, Coathup, Brookman, Allan Jones (Welton 68'), Futcher, Stannard, Andy Jones, Moran, Spike (Davies 90'), Cross. Sub not used:
McDiarmuid

Attendance: 202

Crucial night for Rhyl's aspirations
Rhyl's hopes of playing in Europe could be boosted tonight, and that's despite not playing! It may be a tall order, but if Rhyl do win their last game at Connah's Quay on Thursday night, there is only one other club that could overtake us in fourth place and that is Cwmbran Town. They have a heavy schedule of three games in five days, starting with tonight's encounter at Cardiff against Afan Lido. They then have a 'home' game with Port Talbot - which is being played in Port Talbot - on Thursday before ending the season at Caernarfon on Saturday.

Anything but a win for Rhyl on Thursday could see Cwmbran, Afan Lido, Caersws or Connah's Quay pipping us for the coveted Euro Spot.

A full preview of the game at Nomads will appear on these pages tomorrow.

Nomads hoodoo to scupper Rhyl?
Preview: Connah's Quay v Rhyl, Thurs 7:30pm
Results went Rhyl's way last night, with Cwmbran and Connah's Quay both losing against Afan Lido and Oswestry Town respectively. It now means that if Rhyl manage to overcome the strong challenge of Nomads on Thursday, they will qualify for their first ever European tournament. It is a daunting task facing Rhyl, for Nomads have had the better of games between the clubs over the years. Rhyl managed to win at Deeside Stadium last season, but Nomads have been transformed by Neville Powell since and have European and Premier Cup aspirations of their own.

Rhyl select from the same team that pipped Haverfordwest with a last minute goal on Saturday. Connah's Quay have a doubt over former player Gary McGosh but will no doubt field a side determined to stop Rhyl in their tracks!

This is undoubtedly the biggest game in Rhyl's history for some time, and a good support from Rhyl is needed to spur the lads on. Please make every effort to be at the Deeside Stadium. Be there or be square!

"C'mon you whites!....."

Rhyl FC Soccer Sevens Latest
The Soccer Sevens age groups for Saturday 1 June U9, U10 U11 are now fully subscribed. We currently have vacancies on Sunday 2 June for U12 U13 and Girls U12 & U14

Next website update on Monday!
Due to a short break, these pages will not now be updated until Monday, 29th April. To find out the score and final league placings please select the "Table&Stats" option at the top of the screen. Normal service resumed from next week.

So near, yet so far!
Report: Connah's Quay Nomads 2 Rhyl 1 (LoW)
Rhyl's european hopes came to an abrupt end at the Deeside Stadium with Nomads, the perennial party poopers, taking the three points that deprives Rhyl of an Inter-Toto placing. With Afan Lido and Caersws both winning their games on Saturday, it means that Rhyl, having for so long occupied a top-four placing, will now finish the season in sixth - at least ensuring qualification to next season's Premier Cup competition.

Rhyl were never in a first half that saw Nomads deal comfortably with Rhyl's long-ball game. Any hopes that Nomads would be weary, after playing their second game in three days, were dispelled when Stuart Rain netted after only six minutes. They went further ahead when a break down the left saw the ball turned in for Roberts to fire underneath Lee Williams on the half-hour. Rhyl had claims for a penalty when Lee Spike fell in the box, and Andy Mullinor had to race out to clear the danger from another Rhyl attack.

Rhyl performed better in the second half, and pulled one back when a right wing pass crossed the path of Andy Moran only for Mathew Cross to fire home. Rhyl pressed forwards, but were always vulnerable at the back, and had to thank Lee Williams and their lucky stars that two efforts from Rain failed to increase the home tally.

It was a set of dejected faces that left the field at the end of play, but with Rhyl's league placing their highest ever in the League of Wales, there is a good base to build upon for the next campaign.

RHYL: L.Williams, Webster, Coathup, Brookman, Welton, Andy Jones, Stannard,  Futcher, Moran, Spike,Cross. Subs not used:McDiarmiud, Maguire, A.Davies

Attendance: 303