LLANFAIR UNITED 1

RUTHIN TOWN 1

A PEACH of a goal helped Ruthin Town to make their point on the opening weekend of the league season.

The new FAW Cymru North campaign got underway for Ruthin with a Saturday trip to Llanfair United.

In Chris Williams' final match in charge of Ruthin, it ended up one-apiece.

It wasn't the best of performances from Ruthin on the day, but they did enough to start the league season with a point.

Town started in brilliant fashion and they claimed the lead after only six minutes.

Ilan Hughes free kick went into the wall and the ball reached Kevin Evans 35 yards out.

He took one touch before hammering a brilliant strike into the top corner of the net.

Buoyed by this, Ruthin were well on top for the next quarter-of-an-hour.

Wil Owen was lively up front and he had an opportunity to extend Ruthin's advantage.

Garmon Hafal's cross was met by the head of Owen and he was denied a goal by a great save from Llanfair keeper Mark Richards.

Llanfair responded and they managed to level things up after half-an-hour.

Paul Griffiths whipped a free kick into the danger zone and Gethin Stephens was in the right place to head the ball into the bottom corner from six yards out.

United's hopes of claiming a victory suffered a blow with 10 minutes of the first half left to play.

Following a brawl, Paul Griffiths was sent off, reducing the hosts to 10 men.

In the main, Llanfair sat back and defended after this.

Even so, they did have a glimpse of goal when Josh Astley fired in a superb volley, which forced Ruthin number one Ryan Goldston into a brilliant save.

Goldston was forced into action again in the second half to keep out Astley's low strike, while a chip from Karl Seliaerts went narrowly over the crossbar.

At the other end, Ruthin were on top during the closing stages and Garmon Hafal had a chance to bag a winner, but he was halted by Rhys Stephens' last gasp challenge.

Llanfair defended well when they were a man down and Ruthin just couldn’t find the killer pass to create that one chance to try and grab the winner.