LLANGOLLEN TOWN 6
MOLD ALEX 4
HOW vital will this result prove during the end-of-season relegation shake-up?
Only time will tell, but Llangollen Town’s big win over Mold will give the Tower Fields side renewed hope that they can stave off a quick return to the Wrexham Area League.
Going into the match, Llangollen had lost their last eight matches in all competitions - and Gareth Lloyd’s side hadn’t tasted victory since the thumping 6-1 result versus Denbigh Town in early November.
Any evidence of a cagey affair was quickly dispelled as Llan raced into a 3-0 lead inside 26 minutes.
From their first real opportunity, Llangollen managed to get their noses in front after 11 minutes, when Johnny Taylor was on hand to hit home a rebound after Simon Hulse’s direct free-kick had come back off the post.
Mold responded just minutes later as a Gary Burns shot was spilled by home keeper Martin Jones, who somehow managed to collect the ball despite the close attention of Graham Randles.
Llangollen made it 2-0 on 18 minutes with Simon Hulse’s strike and things got even better for the league strugglers just eight minutes later - on two fronts.
Mold goalkeeper Ryan Roberts hit a goal kick straight to Llangollen’s Max Bayle, who ran into the opposition area with Brett Jones close by.
Jones proceeded to bring Bayle down to give away a penalty and he was sent off for the offence.
Simon Hulse netted from the spot kick for a 3-0 lead and Llangollen looked to be home and dry.
But Mold hadn’t read the script and they came back with a goal on 28 minutes courtesy of Steve McGowan’s piledriver after a corner pass from Joe Brizel.
Things got even better for the Flintshire side as an all-action first half continued.
On 33 minutes a direct free-kick from Chris Guy deceived everyone and flew into the net with the home keeper stranded.
Amazingly, Mold went close to drawing level when a Terry Pughe shot was just inches over the home crossbar from just outside the area on 40 minutes.
The next goal was likely to be crucial to the outcome - and to Llangollen’s relief it went in their favour.
Right on the stroke of half-time Mold number one Ryan Roberts fumbled a ball into the box and Max Bayle scrambled home the loose ball to make it 4-2.
A minute after the half-time cuppa and Llan were in the clear with another goal.
Llangollen quickly worked the ball upfield and Paul Griffiths got the final touch.
If five was fantastic for Llangollen, then six was simply sizzling.
The hosts stretched their lead further with 23 minutes remaining as Johnny Taylor headed in his second goal of the afternoon after a free kick.
But within a minute, Mold registered again with Graham Randles charging through to score, despite some Llangollen calls for offside.
Any Llan fans hoping for a quiet closing 10 minutes were to be sorely disappointed as the action continued.
Taylor was close to putting the home side in seventh heaven, only to see his shot blocked and the rebound hit over the top.
After 85 minutes, the gap was back down to just two goals with Chris Guy heading home Mold’s fourth goal of the match.
And from that point on it was all about Mold and their quest to salvage an unlikely point.
Seconds after scoring, Chris Guy saw his shot come back off the home crossbar after a Terry Pughe cross, while Graham Randles wasn’t too far away from finding the target on 87 minutes.
In added-on time at the end of the 90 minutes Dave Bryan saw his shot tipped over the crossbar for a corner, and from the ensuing flag kick Chris Guy was denied by a fine save from Llangollen keeper Martin Jones.