SALTNEY TOWN 2

CORWEN 7

THERE was just no stopping Joe Williams over the weekend.

Wonderful Williams bagged all of his side's seven goals as Corwen roared back to winning ways during their Wrexham Area League Premier Division trip to Saltney Town.

Danny Jellicoe's charges were looking to bounce back from back-to-back defeats as they faced a trip to Sandy Lane, having already beaten Saltney twice this season.

There were 12 players on the pitch in Corwen shirts, but the visitors weren't trying to pull a fast one!

Saltney Town number one Andy Owen had to lend a goalkeeper's shirt from Corwen, as the green shirt he was previously wearing clashed with Corwen’s away strip.

In a swift opening, the deadlock was broken after just 55 seconds.

Scott Evans floated a pinpoint corner towards Joe Williams in the penalty area and he headed the ball beyond the reach of Owen and into the top corner of the net.

Continuing the blistering beginning, Williams then doubled his tally in the eighth minute.

Elystan Hughes played a great pass to Scott Evans, who sent a brilliant ball towards the danger area and Williams broke free of the defence to slot home.

The hosts responded to these early setbacks and Paul Johnson probably thought that he should have done better as he headed the ball over the bar in a crowded box.

Jack Roberts was the next to try his luck for Saltney, but he sent his effort over the bar.

Soon afterwards, Roberts was able to get through on goal, but a great last ditch tackle from Kian Harrison prevented him from getting a shot away.

After 26 minutes, a header from Daniel Burgess forced a save from Corwen keeper Nathan Aldridge.

From the resulting corner, Burgess was able to get a free header and he found the back of the net to cut the deficit.

Unperturbed, Corwen restored their two-goal cushion in the 37th minute.

Nathan Aldridge's long ball forward found Scott Evans, who crossed for Joe Williams to complete his hat-trick by finding the slightest of gaps between Owen’s outstretched glove and the post.

The home side were far from finished, though, and they got back into the game two minutes later when Ryan Farrell found the back of the net with a powerful header.

The visitors had two opportunities to extend their lead ahead of the break.

Scott Evans sent an effort over the bar, before Joe Williams put a shot wide of the target when Saltney lost possession.

In a spooky coincidence, Corwen opened the second half with a goal after 55 seconds!

Scott Evans was fouled in the box and Joe Williams sent Owen the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Saltney aimed to respond once more and a shot took a massive deflection to wrong-foot Nathan Aldridge, who was relieved to see the ball end up narrowly wide.

Corwen sensed more goals and Kian Harrison shot just over the bar after good work from Ryan Billington and Scott Evans.

Harrison and Evans were involved in the build-up to their side's next goal and that man Joe Williams blasted home his fifth of the afternoon with 25 minutes remaining.

Not content to rest on their laurels, Corwen made it half-a-dozen goals in the 73rd minute.

Ioz Jones crossed to Scott Evans, who flicked it on to Joe Williams and he fired the ball home for his sixth goal.

That strike also marked the sixth assist for Scott Evans.

Continuing to battle, Saltney had an opportunity to pull a goal back in the 86th minute when they were awarded a penalty.

However, Nathan Aldridge guessed correctly as he dived the same way as Burgess' had shot, but in the end he didn’t need to make a save as the ball went wide.

The final word belonged to Corwen and two minutes from time, Scott’s brother James made it seven assists for the Evans family.

He crossed for Joe Williams to tap in a magnificent seventh goal of the day.

Williams now has 31 goals in all competitions this season.