EIGHT GOALS IN FESTIVE THRILLER!
Tuesday Result (2/1)
RHYL 5 CEFN DRUIDS 3 (LoW)
Those who endured a rainswept evening were treated to a fantastic night's entertainment - with Rhyl getting back on track with a much needed win. Lee Williams re-shuffled the pack, making tactical changes and giving debuts to new signings John Stannard (Droylsden) and Robbie Williams (Bangor).

Within twenty one minutes of the start Rhyl had run up a seemingly unassailable 3-0 lead through Danny Barton, and a spectacular brace from Gareth Wilson. Druids had other ideas however and Hugh Griffiths reduced the deficit to 3-2 with two efforts in the last five minutes of the half.

Druids maintained their surge after the restart and drew level through Kevin Scott on 64 minutes. With a tense finale on the cards, Rhyl made sure of three valuable points with a a second goal from Barton on 77' and a clincher from Wes Kinney five minutes before the end.

RHYL: Williams, Brewerton, Curtis, McCosh, Antrobus, Wilson, Stannard, Robbie Williams, Danny Barton, Wes Kinney, Sharratt. subs: Mike Jones, Powell, Fuller.

Second Half Rally Seals Win!
RHAYADER 0 RHYL 2
A heavy surface made play difficult for both sides, with the hosts adapting quicker and creating the better chances in a blank first half. Rhyl came out with greater purpose after the restart and had it not have been for Mike Barton in the Rhayader goal, Rhyl could have come away with a six or seven goal margin. So many times he was the last line of defence and so many times he rescued his side with stunning stops.

He was powerless to prevent Rhyl's opener. Mark Antrobus was pushed from behind in his own box, and from a long free kick taken by Lee Williams, John Stannard controlled the ball before unleashing a tremendous half volley into the top right of the net. Rhyl looked to have doubled the advantage when Antrobus headed home from a corner shortly afterwards, but the linesman adjudged Wes Kinney to have fouled goalkeeper Barton and disallowed the goal.

Rhayader did look dangerous on their counter attacks but the Rhyl defence were first to everything in the air, and when they did get through, the attacker invariably blasted wide of the mark. Lee Williams was seriously tested on only one occasion. With minutes left on the clock,  Rhyl made sure of the points thanks to the perseverance of new signing Robbie Williams. He took the ball past two defenders and into the box before seemingly losing his footing, only for the ball to rebound off goalkeeper Mike Barton and into the path of Danny Barton, who was able to tap home into an unguarded net.

It was just rewards for a Rhyl side who looked dangerous on each attack, and that without the missing Lee Trundle who watched the game from the stand due to a niggling ankle injury.

RHYL: Williams, Brewerton, Curtis, McCosh, Antrobus, Wilson, Stannard, Robbie Williams, Danny Barton, Wes Kinney, Sharratt. subs: Mike Jones, Powell, Fuller.

Club Round-Up
Rhyl's under-13's are through to the Rhyl and District Junior League Cup semi-finals after beating Denbigh 10-1.

Rhyl Colts lost their first match of the season 3-2 to Connah's Quay.

Rhyl Thirds recorded an impressive 13-0 win over neighbours Prestatyn NOVA. Scorers were Neil Jones (6), Dean Billingsley (2), Dean Jones, Martin Jones, Phil Goodwin, Steve Scott Lee and Alan Evans.

The Reserves' scheduled match against Glan Conwy was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

Friendly Result
RHYL 0 CREWE ALEXANDRA 1
Rhyl took the opportunity to give a run-out to the whole first team squad in this entertaining fixture against a Crewe side featuring SEVEN recognised first teamers. These changes failed to spoil the game as a spectacle and although Rhyl did fall to a one goal defeat, Lee Williams will have gleaned much from the experience. Lee Trundle, on his comeback, had the Crewe defenders in a muddle during the first half and there were good chances for Gareth Wilson, Barton and Trundle to put Rhyl ahead. Crewe were a strong side however and scored the only goal of the game on 39 minutes through Paul Tate. Lee Williams then changed his team almost completely during the course of the second half, bringing on players from the Reserves and Thirds along with first team squad members.

RHYL: Williams,Brewerton (Powell), Curtis (Fuller), McCosh, Antrobus (Joe McMahon), Wilson (K Evans), Stannard (S Hoult), R Williams (P Owens), Barton (Neil Jones), Trundle (M Jones), Sharratt (Andy Davies).

Rhayader Photos

Wes Kinney races past Chris Morgan

This effort from a corner
is cleared off the line by Lee Matthews.


Wes Kinney


John Stannard tees-up ...

... then let's fly!

... and celebrates his goal!!

Danny Barton made sure of the
win with his late goal

Quay Backlash?
Rhyl make the short trip to the Deeside on Friday, fearing a backlash from Connah's Quay after their midweek home defeat against Barry Town in the Premier Cup. The Nomads are undefeated in league action against Rhyl at the Deeside Stadium, and will be looking to build on their own excellent victory at Bangor City last weekend.

Rhyl moved up to sixth place in the league after their  victory at Rhayader, and apart from Steve Jones who is still suspended, Lee Williams has a full squad  to select from. 

Please make every effort to cheer the team in this local derby, the players do value your support.

Fixture Change
Rhyl's Welsh Cup exit has meant a change to the fixture list, with the game at UWIC Inter Cardiff now taking place a weekend earlier on the 10th of February, 2001. Kick off will be 2:30pm.

Connah's Quay 1 Rhyl 2
Rhyl romped  to a valuable away victory in a largely one-sided affair, finally laying to rest a rather unauspicious series of results at the Deeside Stadium.

A one-goal margin does not reflect the superiority of a Rhyl team that took the lead on eleven minutes. John Stannard racing down the right wing and centring for Robbie Williams to knock home. Chance after chance went begging as Rhyl laid on the pressure, but the Quay goal survived until the interval.

Nomads made more of a battle of it after the restart, but it was Rhyl who went further ahead when Chris Sharratt fed Danny Barton, and he rounded the goalkeeper before slotting home on fifty four minutes. 

Rhyl could so easily have notched double-figures,  but were left to sweat a little at  the end when Stuart Raine pulled a goal back on 87 minutes. It was not to be however, and the scenes at the end were more akin to a home match with Rhyl supporters, who out-numbered home fans, saluting the victorious team.

RHYL: Williams, Brewerton, Curtis, McCosh, Antrobus, Wilson (Powell), Stannard (Mick Jones), Robbie Williams, Danny Barton (Lee Trundle), Wes Kinney, Sharratt. 

Trundle's Award

Lee Trundle, prior to the match at Nomads on Friday, is presented with a bottle of champagne for winning the Radio Cymru  "Ar y Marc" Player of the Month Award for November.

Match Off
Tonight's match against Chester City has been cancelled due to a frozen surface. Rhyl FC hope to re-arrange the fixture, and further details will appear on this site when known.

Manager Lee to feature in goal routine?
Saturday Preview: Rhyl v Llanelli 2.30pm

Rhyl's goal celebrations have almost become as memorable as the goals themselves this season, with several post-goal routines entertaining the crowd.

Rhyl fans will be baying for a goal against Llanelli to see if manager Lee Williams' infamous TV interview will be the victim of the next tease. Rhyl's manager was picked up on a mis-kick at the game against Connah's Quay last week, and at the end of the interview was filmed tripping over the cameraman's bag! It will be interesting to see if the strikers pick up on this at tomorrow's game!

Rhyl will be looking to avenge one of the most dismal performances of the season, when they went down  2-1 at Llanelli earlier in September. A disfunctional Rhyl were unable to master a Llanelli side that had only ten-men for the entire second half. Things have turned around since then however, and Llanelli will face sterner opposition in this rematch.

Llanelli do have a good record against Rhyl, so tomorrow's tussle could prove to be one of the games of the season. They will arrive at Belle Vue fresh from a 4-0 Premier Cup win against championship challengers Cwmbran, and they are one of the most attractive sides to watch in the league.

Make sure you're at Belle Vue for the North Wales Coast's game of the day!

SOS-PANNED!
Llanelli go scarlet as Rhyl run riot!

Rhyl 7 (Seven) Llanelli  0
Rhyl ran up their biggest win in League of Wales history today, yet it was Llanelli who opened  the brightest and  created the best chances in a scoreless first 43 minutes. Dickeson was the main culprit for his side's inability to open the score. He ballooned the ball over when almost on the goal-line and from then-on it was Rhyl who gained the upper hand.

There was strong claims for a penalty when Trundle was brought down in the box, but he made no mistake on 43 minutes when he took the ball past a defender and rounded Morgan to put Rhyl ahead. Within two minutes, and on the stroke of half-time, Gareth Wilson fed a fantastic cross into the six-yard box and Wes Kinney headed firmly into the net.

Rhyl supporters expected their team to increase the advantage after the interval, but they had no inkling as to the extent of the domination that would ensue. Wes Kinney turned the right back inside-out on 55 mins and fed the ball to Robbie Williams, who fired an unstoppable shot into the top-right of the goal with Morgan well beaten.  On sixty seven minutes Williams latched onto a through ball and raced on goal, only to be felled by the goalkeeper - for which he was sent off and a penalty awarded. Gary Davies took over the goalie shirt but he was well beaten by Trundle from the spot. Five minutes later Kinney fed a great ball in from the right wing and this time it was John Stannard on hand to tap home from close range. Trundle  recorded his hat-trick from the spot after 79 minutes and with the crowd baying for another, Gary McCosh obliged from close range on 84 minutes.

This result goes someway to atoning for a similar defeat inflicted on Rhyl by Llanelli last season, and will have giving the team some extra confidence ahead of the big match against Carmarthen Town at Richmond Park next weekend.

Rhyl: L Williams, Brewerton, Curtis, McCosh, Antrobus, Wilson, Stannard, R Williams, Kinney (D Barton), Trundle, Sharratt (M Jones)

Att: 293

Match On! (11am)
There are no problems at Belle Vue and this afternoon's fixture with Llanelli will go ahead as planned at 2.30pm.

SEVENTH HEAVEN!
Rhyl v Llanelli in pictures

GOAL ONE

Lee Trundle having rounded the
keeper taps into an empty net!

... the goal celebrations poke fun
at manager Lee Williams!
GOAL TWO

Wes Kinney uses his height to head home!
GOAL THREE

Robbie Williams (right) launches
this into the top corner of the net
NOW YOU SEE HIM!

Trundle shields the ball from Gary Davies
NOW YOU DON'T

Where's he gone??
GOAL FOUR

Robbie Williams breaks through ..

Only to be felled by goalie Morgan

Lee Trundle scores from the spot
GOAL FIVE

John Stannard gets on the end of a
ball from Wes Kinney
GOALS SIX & SEVEN
On another film but will follow shortly!

Thirds Triumph!
Rhyl Thirds came back from a three goal deficit  to eventually win 5-3 against Connah's Quay in a pulsating REM Jones Memorial Cup 1st Round tie. Craig Sullivan opened the scoring with a penalty on 23 minutes, and he added another on the half hour. Liam Morris looked to have sealed matters when he scored the third, ten minutes from the interval but the Rhyl team came back strongly.

Second half goals from Neil Jones (56 mins), Phil Goodwin (62'-pen) and a brace from man of the match Andy Davies (65', 84') put Rhyl ahead, and substitute Dean Billingsley rounded off matters with a fifth on 89 minutes.

Wilson out to impress
Saturday Preview: Carmarthen v Rhyl

Gareth Wilson has made no secret of his ambition to play for the Welsh semi-professional team. He won't have a better opportunity to stake his claim for selection than on Saturday when Rhyl face Carmarthen at Richmond Park. The host's manager Tommy Morgan is in charge of the Welsh team and will be able to witness his potential first hand. Gareth has been a revelation in Rhyl's midfield since re-joining the club and hopes to add to his impressive honours list by featuring in the squad for February's England v Wales semi-pro game. Gareth has already gained International honours at under-18 level and won a Welsh Youth Cup Winners medal whilst at Wrexham.

Rhyl face a daunting task at Richmond Park against a Carmarthen team currently flying high above them in the table. Having said that, previous games have always been close affairs with Rhyl giving a good showing.  The pitch at Richmond Park has been widened this year which will suit Rhyl's game, but their defence is one of the most formidable in the league with former Wrexham player Deryn Brace featuring prominently in the left back berth. He is known for his attacking prowess too, and Rhyl will have to be very wary of his forays up front!

Saturday's match promises to be a "cracker" in the true sense of the word. If you would like to travel to the game, a coach leaves Belle Vue at 7.45am on Saturday morning. Please contact the club on 01745 338327 to confirm your place.

Carmarthen 3 Rhyl 0
A pulsating game at Richmond Park saw Rhyl open strongly but fall to three killer strikes after the interval. Rhyl dominated the opening quarter and were awarded a penalty after 12 minutes when Trundle was brought down on the edge of the box. He took the penalty, only to see goalkeeper Fitzgerald dive low to his left and block the attempt. The ball rebounded to Kinney but Fitzgerald performed a fantastic double-save to signify a change in his side's fortunes.  The rest of the half saw the match sway from one end to the other with both defences being worked hard.

The second half followed the same pattern until wingman Wayne Jones found Richard Parker free in the box on 53 minutes. His header beat Lee Williams to bring an end to his barren spell without a goal. The roles were reversed barely three minutes later when Parker was the provider for Wayne Jones to fire home.

Rhyl stepped up a gear in an effort to reduce the arrears but were dealt a killer blow when Craig Evans rammed home on 73 minutes to put the outcome beyond doubt.

Rhyl worked hard but can have no complaints about the scoreline. Lee Williams must now raise his team for next weekend's equally crucial match against Newtown.

RHYL: L Williams, J Brewerton, G Curtis,  G McCosh, M Antrobus, G Wilson, J Stannard, R Williams, W Kinney, L Trundle, Sharratt (Mick Jones) SUBS: Steve Jones, Phil Owens.

Carmarthen in Photographs

Gary Curtis wins this duel with Richard Parker


Lee Williams catches comfortably


Gary McCosh surges forward


Robbie Williams shields the ball


David Barnhouse clears the danger
with Lee Trundle close by.