Preview: Bangor v Rhyl 7:30pm
Rhyl make the short journey up the coast searching for an all too rare "double" over the club's traditional rivals. Victories since the golden era of the 50's have been few and far between, with Rhyl not having won a league game at Bangor since April 1963. The last double over them was recorded way back in the 56/57 season! It is of course a massive undertaking to turn this around, but with Bangor hovering above the relegation zone and Rhyl enjoying their best season for many years it can be done. Rhyl have made a habit of laying to rest some longstanding 'bogeys' this season, but nothing would mean more to the fans than this 'scalp' tonight.

Rhyl have a full side to select from, and with a good crowd making their way from Rhyl, a passionate derby match is envisaged. If you can make it to cheer the lads on please do so, your support is much valued!

DERBY DELIGHT FOR RHYL!
First 'Double' since 1957!
BANGOR CITY 0 RHYL 3

Rhyl finally laid the longest standing bogey to rest with a gutsy performance against rivals Bangor City. Rhyl were on top for most of the game and went ahead through new signing Billy O'Callaghan two minutes into the second half. John Stannard then scored his third in four days and Stuart Graves capped a fantastic second-half performance with a third on the stroke of full time.

Rhyl:
Dave Williams, Dewi Parry, Gary Curtis, Mark Antrobus (c), James Brewerton, Mick Jones, Gareth Wilson, John Stannard, Wes Kinney (sub: Stuart Graves), Danny Barton, Billy O'Callaghan (sub: Steve Jones)

Third 'double' of the week?
Preview & Club News
Rhyl will be keen to maintain the momentum in tomorrow's League of Wales fixture against Port Talbot. The visitors were hit-for-six in last October's meeting between the sides, and Lee Williams will be hoping for more of the same this time around. He has a full squad to select  from, with Dave Williams retaining his spot in   goal.

Rhyl have scheduled the Coast Challenge Cup fixture against Halkyn United for next Wednesday, the 11th of April. Kick off will be 7.30pm. Rhyl will be fielding the first team in this fixture.

The Reserves final home game in the Welsh Alliance League will be played on Easter Monday at Rhyl,ko 2.30. Abergele Town will provide the opposition.

Rhyl's Third team play Llanystumdwy on Saturday In the N.W. Junior cup semi final at Bethesda .

The club have been offered the chance to stage a Womens World Cup match on Saturday 17 November 2001, Wales v Belgium. More details as we get them.

Seven Goal Thriller!
Rhyl 4 Port Talbot 3
The Lilywhites recorded another valuable win - and their third double in a week - but were made to hang on in a chaotic finale to the match. It was the visitors who opened the scoring through Bartley after only five minutes. Mick Jones then fired home from the spot after being brought down himself, and James Brewerton headed the second from a corner nine minutes from the interval. Rhyl romped to a 4-1 lead after the break thanks to goals from Stannard - the goal of the match - and a Stuart Graves effort from a scramble on 84 minutes. The visitors then pulled two late goals back in as many minutes,   Bartley and substitute Vince Lewis being accredited with doing the damage. Things got a bit out of hand towards the end with one player from each side being sent-off, but Rhyl held on to secure a valuable three points.

Rhyl: D Williams, D Parry, G Curtis, M Antrobus, J Brewerton, M Jones, J Stannard (S Graves 67'), G Wilson (S Jones 74'), D Barton, B O'Callaghan (C Sharratt 63'), W Kinney.

Attendance: 213

Cwmbran match as scheduled!
Contrary to the information posted on this web site over a fortnight ago, it now seems that the fixture against Cwmbran will go ahead as planned on Saturday the 28th April.

Rhylfc.com had been led to believe by a Cwmbran Town official that the game was to be played at Merthyr on the 5th of May. It has since transpired that this had not been agreed by Rhyl FC or the League's Management Board.

It now appears as if the match will go ahead as planned, although the venue is still in doubt as Cwmbran's stadium is being upgraded and is unavailable at present.

Halkyn hammered!
Rhyl made sure of their passage to the next round of the North Wales Coast Challenge cup with a deserved 6-1 win against Cymru Alliance Halkyn United. Full details to follow ...

Dame Fortune shines on 'whites!
Rhyl 2 Caersws 1
Visitors Caersws will consider themselves rather unlucky to have left Belle Vue without any points today. While the overall Rhyl performance was good, Rhyl goalkeeper Dave Williams had an outstanding game and it was he with the help of his defence that thwarted the Bluebirds' ambitions.

With a swirling wind favouring Caersws as they attacked the 'Kop' in the first half, Rhyl's goalscoring opportunities were few and far between. It looked liked being stalemate at half-time until a Brewerton through ball landed at Danny Barton's feet. He seemed to get to the ball at the same time as a defender with the ball deflecting off both and looping over Griffiths in goal on 40 minutes.

With both sides playing some fantastic football after the break, it was Rhyl who were let off the hook when a shot cannoned off the crossbar and another was cleared off the line. Dave Williams stopped some fantastic goalbound efforts too, and with Rhyl being frustrated by the Blues' offside game it was a tense match to watch. A breakthrough eventually came, and it was Rhyl's Wes Kinney who received a ball in the centre and raced through the offside trap to fire into the bottom left of the net.

Caersws came back strongly, pulling one back at the near post through Graham Evans but it was not to be enough.

The game was as entertaining as any played at Belle Vue this season, and the result keeps Rhyl in the top four of the table. Caersws are sure to seek revenge on Wednesday in the return fixture but before then it is the small matter of Oswestry on Monday in what is a vital game for both clubs.

Rhyl: D Williams, D Parry, G Curtis, M Antrobus, J Brewerton, M Jones (G Wilson), J Stannard, R Williams, D Barton, W Kinney, S Graves (S Jones)

Vintage performance seals victory!
Oswestry 0 Rhyl 3
Rhyl turned in one of their best displays of the season to deepen the O's gloom at the bottom of the table. The poor surface made it difficult for both sides, with Rhyl adapting well against the long ball tactics of Oswestry.

Rhyl's midfield were on top throughout the game and it was fitting that midfield dynamo Robbie Williams was found unmarked in the box by Danny Barton. He made no mistake with a rasping drive and Rhyl were ahead after only 11 minutes. John Stannard and Wes Kinney came close to increasing the lead, but it was Oswestry who almost equalised before the interval. Their striker was clean-through and teeing himself up for a shot when the ball hit one of the many divots and ended up in the nearby field!

Rhyl were on fire in the second-half, and made sure of the win with two great goals. The first saw Wes Kinney latch onto a through ball, only to be dis-possessed by a defender at the death. With the Oswestry defence gazing at the action in stepped Danny Barton to fire home the loose ball. 2-0!

The third goal was the best worked of the game, and involved two of the substitutes. The evergreen Dave Fuller, re-called from the Reserves, raced down the left wing and delivered a pin-point cross to the head of Billy O'Callaghan, he in turn headed down to the oncoming John Stannard and he fired an unstoppable shot into the net.

Rhyl: D Williams, D Parry, G Curtis, M Antrobus, J Brewerton, G Wilson, J Stannard, R Williams, D Barton, W Kinney, S Graves. Subs (all used) : A Jones, D Fuller, Billy O'Callaghan.

Nine-man Rhyl fall to defeat
Caersws 2 Rhyl 1
With key players out due to suspension and unavailability, Rhyl were forced to shuffle the pack, moving Dewi Parry into the centre alongside Mark Antrobus and giving reservist Dave Fuller a run-out at right back. Mick Jones returned to the centre of midfield in the absence of Gareth Wilson and Billy O'Callaghan started in place of Stuart Graves.

These wholesale changes didn't seem to affect the pattern of the play as Rhyl took an early lead when Danny Barton raced down the right wing, passed to Billy O'Callaghan, who in turn laid on a fantastic ball for Wes Kinney to fire home from six yards.

Caerws took the advantage after this, putting the Rhyl defence under some incessant pressure. It was during this period that they drew level. Mark Antrobus being adjudged to have handled in the area and Graham Evans equalising matters from the spot.

The second half followed the same pattern, with both sides playing some attractive football down the flanks. It was from one of these breaks that Caersws took the lead. Marc Hughes floated in a pin-point cross giving Andy Davies a free header from ten yards which he knocked home with aplomb. Back came Rhyl, but they were dealt a body blow when the industrious John Stannard was sent-off with a 'straight red' following an alleged 'dive' in the box. His departure made things difficult for Rhyl but with Billy O'Callaghan in the centre of things there always seemed a chance of pegging a goal back. Caersws then made the most of their numerical advantage when Antobus was again adjudged to have handed in the area from a cross.This time goalie Dave Williams forced the spot kick onto the cross bar and safety. Wes Kinney was sent-off shortly before the end for a late tackle to cap a disappointing match for the travelling supporters.

Rhyl: D Williams, D Fuller, Curtis, Antrobus, D Parry (P Owens), M Jones (Andy Jones), Stanard, Robbie Williams, Barton, O'Callaghan (Steve Jones).

Easter Action!

Danny Barton races through (v Caersws)


Stuart Graves involved in this tussle for the ball

Wes Kinney caused the Caersws defence all manner of problems

Robbie Williams had another excellent game in midfield.

Tough Tackling in the Rhyl Thirds v Rhyl Caskeys derby match at the Coronation Gardens

Rhyl's second goal to make it 2-2, the final score in a thrilling match was 4-4!

Club News
End of Season Party
Supporters are welcome to come along to the End of Season party at the Robin Hood Camp after tomorrow's final home game of the season. Entertainment will be provided by 60's Band "The Informers" in their last ever gig and it promises to be an excellent night.

Tickets are priced at only £3 and will be available at the game against Lido tomorrow.

Player of the Season Award
Please make sure you submit your nomination at the game tomorrow, the presentation will take place at the End of Season Party.

Thirds announce fixtures:
24th Tuesday away Y Glannau
26th Thursday home Llanefydd.
28th Saturday away Rhuddlan R.E.M. Jones Cup.
3rd May Thursday away Rhuddlan
5th Saturday home Bagillt or Junior Cup Final.
8th Tuesday away Llanefydd
10th Thursday home Llandyrnog
12th Saturday away Con. Quay Nomads

A special page dedicated to the Thirds will be on-line shortly, featuring player profiles and photos.

Euro hopes evaporate!
RHYL 0 AFAN LIDO 2
An incredible match saw Rhyl dominate the proceedings, yet fail to score and end up with only nine-men on the field of play for the second match running. With Danny Barton starting his three-match suspension, Billy O' Callaghan took his mantle and came close to opening the scoring with an overhead kick that scorched the crossbar. Sharratt also had an effort as Rhyl piled on the pressure but after three minutes of extra time in the first half, a Mick Jones back-pass was intercepted by Mitch Patton and he made no mistake in putting the visitors ahead.

The second half saw much the same pattern until two Rhyl players had been sent off. Billy O'Callaghan was given a straight red and Robbie Williams  two yellows. With nine-man Rhyl striving for goals at the end, Lido had a break, with two through on Gary Curtis, and they made sure of a valuable three points for the visitors.

Attendance: 280

Scots clinch trophy!
NORTH WALES 2 SCOTS YOUTH 3
A pre-match downpour failed to dampen the spirits in an exciting encounter between the two Associations at Belle Vue. Both sides played exciting, attractive football in the first half but it was the Scots who opened the scoring right on the stroke of half-time.

The game developed into a free-flowing affair after the break and North Wales drew level when Steve Evans met a pinpoint Jason Harvey corner kick to head past goalkeeper Hughes. As the game swayed from end to end, a Scottish corner was fed to Alan Gow and he put the visitors ahead for the second time.  This joy was short-lived however, as Jason Harvey scored the goal of the game with a thirty yard drive that went into the top right-hand corner of the net. Within two minutes the Scots had gone ahead again, and it was Clydebank FC professional Alan Gow who again found the back of the net with a speculative effort from outside the box. North Wales tried their hardest to find an equaliser, even pushing goalie Harvey forwards, but without success.

A fantastic match for the watching crowd, and one that sees the Scots lift the "Denbighshire County Council Shield" for the first time ever.

Rhyl's Jon Fisher-Cooke and Joe McMahon featured in the Coast FA team.

Pictures of the two teams and match action shots will appear on these pages during the week.

THIRDS THROUGH!
Rhyl Thirds are through to the final of the REM Jones Memorial Cup after beating Rhuddlan 6-3 in today's match.

Coast Cup KO!
Holyhead Hotspur 2 Rhyl 1
Rhyl's season ended in a disappointing fashion with a Semi-final exit against the Cymru Alliance 'Harbourmen'. Despite having only twelve players able to travel, Rhyl dominated the opening period and went ahead when Gary Curtis fired home a thirty-five yard free kick after half an hour. Andy Jones hit the post five minutes before the interval and all looked rosy for the second half.

It was not to be however, sub Simon Wallis replaced Billy O'Callaghan only for the influential Mark Antrobus to retire with a serious eye injury. Ten-man Rhyl did their best but Hotspur were on fire and equalised through Jason Joyce after 50'. A period of incessant pressure before the end paid dividends with Adie Owen firing home the winner from close range, eight minutes from time.

Rhyl: Williams, Parry, Curtis, Antrobus, Brewerton, Mick Jones, R Williams, C Sharratt, Steve Jones, O'Callaghan (S Wallis), Andy Jones.