CORWEN RESERVES 2

PENYCAE RESERVES 1

WHAT a brilliant start to the season it has been for Corwen Reserves.

The War Memorial Park side stretched their unbeaten start in the Reserves' Division of the Wrexham Area League to three games with Friday night's 2-1 win at home to Penycae.

The wet weather ahead of the game caused the pitch markings to start washing away, meaning that disciplinary secretary Ian Evans had to go around the pitch with the pitch marker minutes before kick-off.

The visitors, who had won promotion from the Reserves and Colts division last season, had much of the early play, but they didn't really trouble makeshift keeper James Davies, who normally plays outfield.

In the 25th minute, Evan Woodall got through on goal, but Corwen defender Sam Griffiths tracked back and stopped the striker in his tracks with a great last ditch tackle.

A couple of minutes later and James Davies made a brilliant reflex save to keep it goalless.

The opening goal came in the second minute of stoppage and it was Corwen who were celebrating.

Tom Mann's brilliant curling free kick found the corner of the net.

Penycae levelled after the break, with Evan Woodall scoring from the penalty spot.

The visitors thought they had taken the lead after finding the back of the net following a well-worked move, but this was chalked off for offside.

The game's pivotal moment arrived three minutes from time, when the hosts were awarded a penalty.

Tom Mann made no mistake from the spot to seal Corwen's second win of the week.