Match Details
Date: Saturday 03 December 2016
Result: 0-2 (won)
Starting XI – Nathan Aldridge, Sam Roberts, Paul Griffiths (c), Jamie Foulkes, Jack Richards, Nathan Williams, Dion Gibbins, Andrew Jones, Nic Jones, Alex Williams, Oliver Davies
Substitutes – Kein Morris, Luke Williams
Goalscorer(s):
Andrew Jones
Oliver Davies
MOM: Dion Gibbins
Today our first team were in league action and visited Wepre Park, the home of the current WNL Premier Division champions F.C Nomads. With important players returning from injury it's starting to add more depth and experience to our young team and in recent weeks you can sense things are starting to move in the right direction and there is a confidence beginning to gather in throughout squad. The management headed into this fixture hoping to build on the home draw against Llanuwchllyn last Saturday which in truth we should have won!
From the very first whistle the boys took the game right to hosts and in the first 10 minutes racked up 6 corners which clearly signalled their domination in the early exchanges. The bright start from the team was soon rewarded around the 20 minute mark when a 30 yard strike from full back Jamie Foulkes was fumbled by the home keeper but it was the impressive 17yo Andrew Jones was first to react and tapped in the opener which adds another goal to his growing tally. The boys continued to dominate throughout the half and went in search for the second but could not find the breakthrough. The first half ended 0-1 which was thoroughly deserved!
Second half and as expected the host started brightly and for the first time asked a couple of questions. However, despite some more possession they carved no opportunities to really trouble big Nathan Aldridge in the Cefn sticks. Credit must go to the entire team who were organised from top to back, the back four were disciplined and stood firm. It wasn’t long before the Albion took a hold back on the game and it was our prolific top goal scorer Oli Davies who finished an excellent move to put the Albion two up. With nothing to lose, FC Nomads switched to 3 up top but despite this the boys never looked like conceding and Aldridge was only called upon once pulling off a fine save to his low right. In the dying minutes of the game there was one moment of madness which nearly undone all the good defending and possible clean sheet when centre midfielder Nic Jones handled in the area. The referee quite rightly awarded Nomads a late penalty which their skipper smashed on to the bar. FT 0-2
In summary, today saw an excellent performance at a ground where many teams will find it difficult to win. Albion were the team that clearly wanted to win the game more and thoroughly deserved all three points and the clean sheet to go with it. The win will add more confidence and belief into the squad and the lads will be hoping to go three unbeaten when the visit high flying Brickfield Rangers next Saturday.
Thanks to all the Cefners who made the trip up to Connahs Quay, It’s much appreciated #12thMan!
