News Archive : 2002/2003
August '02

Tonight's friendly
Rhyl will make the journey to Merseyside tonight to take on Poulton Vics in a friendly match. Poulton have already played two LoW clubs in their preparations for the new season, and if Rhyl need any benchmark to gauge their performance, four goal wins for both Caernarfon and Bangor should be as good as any.

Directions to Poulton Vics
Take the westbound M53, carry on all the way to the end getting into the Wallasey / All Docks exit, this takes you down to the roundabout. Take the first exit left ~ The Poulton Vics Social club is on your left. Take the next right (not the traffic lights!), travel for about 300 yards till you come to a pub on the corner turn left, when you get to the top of the road turn right and the pitch is there you can park by the pitch.

Club Round-Up
Introducing our new signing ...
Steve Walters will prove to be the pivotal point for a successful season according to Rhyl Football Club boss John Hulse. Walters, snapped up from Kidsgrove, is a former England semi-pro captain and an inspirational figure in the centre of midfield. The 27 years old joined Kidsgrove after a £27,000 move to Stevenage Borough and helped himself to 23 goals from his midfield berth last season as the Midlands side powered their way to the North West Counties title. "Steve is a vastly experienced player who will stand out in the League of Wales" said Hulse. He is a great leader by example and will give us a new dimension in midfield". A veil of secrecy was thrown over Belle Vue as Rhyl negotiated the deal as a clutch of other clubs battled for his signature. "I like what I have seen at Rhyl," said Walters. "The playing surface is superb and the pre-season workouts have been really impressive. I cannot wait to get out on the field. I injured my shin a couple of weeks ago and haven't been able to play but, hopefully, I will be fit for the start of the season".

Friendlies
With last Thursday's game at Poulton falling victim to the torrential rain earlier in the day, Rhyl's only friendly of the week was played on Saturday, at home against Trafford FC. It was a good contest, with Rhyl's new style of play pleasing the home crowd. Two second half goals sealed the win, Gareth Wilson doing the damage on 55 minutes, and Chris McGinn adding the second with a delightful lob later in the game.

Rhyl hope to travel to Poulton this coming Thursday, with the match kicking off at 7:15pm, weather permitting.

Rhyl win Soccer-Sixes
Rhyl FC Athletic won last Sundays Soccer Sixes competition run by Prestatyn Town FC. The event held at Bastion Road saw Rhyl undefeated in their six games.

Rhyl games:-

Macauleys won 1-0 Dean Billingsley
Tolcaster Utd won 1-0 Dean Moss
Caskeys drew 0-0
Meliden drew 0-0
Dyserth won 1-0 Dean Billingsley
Y2K (semi final) drew 0-0 Rhyl won 3-2 on pens
Toggle (Final) drew 0-0 Rhyl won 3-2 on pens

Mike Roose scored the winning penalty and keeper Dave Rowlands did not concede a goal in open play. Emma Stone was the supporter of the day.

Rhyl team:- Dave Rowlands Sean Morgan, Paul Welburn, Mike Roose, Dean Billingsley, Dean Moss & Phil Goodwin.

The lads have donated the trophy to Rhyl FC.

Report: Poulton Vics 2 Rhyl 2 (Friendly)
Two goals from Steve Futcher and Andy Moran before the interval looked to be enough for Rhyl to win this game, but the spirited hosts came back strongly, pulling a goal back with a 10 yard drive that gave 'keeper Dave Williams no chance, and bagging an equaliser with a last minute penalty. Rhyl didn't compromise their playing style in a tough encounter, but will be hoping for a higher return for the number of chances being created in front of goal.

Rhyl line up: Dave Williams, Brewerton, Edwards, Jackson, Futcher, Edge, Graves, Moran, McGinn, Wilson, M. Powell. subs: Coathup, G. Powell, P. McDiarmund, Webster.

Next update due to holidays will be 19th August.
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Season starts in earnest tonight
Rhyl could face backlash!
Rhyl travel to Llansanttfraid tonight to take on a team who represented Wales in the UEFA cup last week. They may have been convincingly beaten 5-0 by fellow professionals Wronki of Poland, but with league points on offer, tonight will be a different kettle of fish. Rhyl have had a steady pre-season build up, with ample opportunity for John Hulse to gauge the strengths of his 23 man squad. Rhyl, however, are notoriously poor starters in the league and will be hoping to put that right tonight, at a venue where they shocked the homesters by winning 2-1 last season.

Kick Off at Treflan is 7:30pm. If you can make it to the game please do so, your support is much appreciated.

Let the season commence ....

Fixture changes!
Following a meeting of the League of Wales clubs last Tuesday, it has been decided to revise the League of Wales fixture schedule for the 2002/2003 season.  This does effect Rhyl, particularly in respect of the Boxing Day fixture with Bangor which has now been re-arranged for Tuesday 5th of November. Rhyl's revised fixture list, including all the Premier Cup matches can be found here.

Friendly Focus
Rhyl played two friendlies last week. The first, on Saturday 10th August, saw Manchester league side Hollinwood face an in-form Rhyl at Belle Vue. With former Wrexham winger Martyn Chalk playing the whole 90 minutes, Rhyl comfortably saw off the visitors by four goals to nil. First half goals by Chris McGinn and Chalk, followed by another two after the interval from McGinn and Andy Moran sealed the victory.

Last Saturday, 17th August,   Rhyl faced Cymru Alliance league side Buckley at Belle Vue in a hastily arranged friendly match. The visitors offered stern opposition and fully deserved a share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw. Buckley went ahead on the half-hour with a Geoff Hinchcliffe effort following a corner. Chris McGinn levelled matters for Rhyl just before the interval when he rifled home. Buckley regained the advantage through Darren Williams on 62 minutes, but Andy Moran had the final say of the game when he diverted a Steve Walters cross into the net ten minutes before the end.

Yet another bad start ...
Result: Llansantffraid TNS 5 Rhyl 0 (LoW)
Rhyl just cannot seem to get themselves into gear for these early season matches, and this was yet another example. It looked as if the home team had a point to prove after their UEFA Cup result, for they controlled most of the play, cruising into a two goal interval lead thanks to efforts from Toner on 11 minutes and Taylor on the stroke of half-time. Further goals were added in the second half by Ruscoe, Naylor and former Rhyl player Justin Perry. It was far from a satisfactory result. The team will be looking to bounce back when they face Haverfordwest County at Belle Vue on Saturday. Kick Off 2:30pm.

Rhyl: Williams, M.Powell, Coathup, Brewerton, Edwards, Walters (Futcher 79'), Wilson, Chalk, Moran, McGinn (G.Powell 75'), Cross (Webster 88').

Get well soon!
Linesman Mike Gilham was rushed to hospital during the first half last night, after breaking his leg in a collision with one of the home players. We wish him a speedy recovery.

Report: Rhyl 1 Haverfordwest 0 (LoW)

Rhyl recovered from the midweek defeat at Llansantffraid to bag their first points of the season, beating a battling H'west County side at Belle Vue. Rhyl were the dominant force in the first half, and County had to rely on 'keeper Haman to keep them in the game. He was beaten once however, and that goal fell to the prolific McGinn, who opened his League of Wales tally after 23 minutes when he volleyed home from Lee Congerton's delightful cross. Matters were more even after the break, with Gareth Wilson, Martyn Chalk and Andy Moran unfortunate to see their efforts thwarted. As the game came to a close it looked like a resurgent County might snatch something, but Rhyl held on to register the first win of the new campaign.   

Rhyl: D Williams, M.Powell, Brewerton, Jackson, Edwards, Walters, Chalk, Wilson, Moran, McGinn, Congerton. Subs not used: G.Powell, Coathup, Futcher.

Attendance: 236

Report: Cwmbran Town 2 Rhyl 0 (LoW)

RHYL´S goal famine continued at Cwmbran last Saturday and cost them a deserved win. The Lilywhites enjoyed 75 per cent of the play but couldn´t carve out enough clear chances on goal to reflect their superiority. In fact their first effort on target came as late as 81 minutes when Lee Congerton had a low drive saved by Cwmbran keeper Marty Ellacott

The signs looked good early on as Rhyl piled on the pressure. Chris McGinn should have hit the target with a free header from Mark Powell´s cross on seven minutes before Powell himself fired wide after a slick interchange of passes with Andy Moran and McGinn. Rhyl had two strong penalty claims turned down just after the half hour mark when Moran and Congerton were both brought down in the box within a couple of seconds as the ball pinged around the danger area. After the break it was more of the same as Rhyl surged forward. McGinn blasted high a Steve Walters corner and then Gareth Wilson fired high after Martyn Chalk´s shot was blocked.

As frustration showed Cwmbran showed Rhyl how to do it and, with their first serious attack of the game, broke the deadlock on 53 minutes.
Richard Carter intercepted a wayward throw in on the halfway line before feeding Anthony Wright 40 yards from goal. The speedy striker powered his way forward into space and unleashed a tremendous shot that left Dave Williams clutching thin air. To their credit Rhyl kept their shape and composure and kept chipping away at the Cwmbran defence. Walters was just wide with a free kick before Wilson brought a superb save out of Ellacott as his shot flew towards the top corner.

Then came the inevitable backlash with just three minutes to go as Cwmbran broke clear to race down the right for Jody Jenkins to lash the ball home from close range and ruin Rhyl's chances of a late comeback.

(report courtesy of the Rhyl Journal)

Rhyl: Williams, M.Powell, Brewerton, Jackson, Edwards, Walters (G.Powell 80'), Chalk, Wilson, Moran, McGinn, Congerton (Graves 83'). Sub not used: Brookman.

Attendance: 195