Damage in the Box!: LLAY MINERS WELFARE (The Ring)

A bonus of a Friday evening off work, so a rare chance to get in a weeknight match. I couldn't travel too far, so it was perfect that Llay had moved their game with Brymbo to the Friday night, because cricket have first dibs on the pitch at this this time of year.

The Ring is the home of the Llay Miners Welfare Institute and as well as the main building there is the football pitch, cricket pitch and two bowling greens. You walk past these to get to the football pitch, which is at the far end of the complex. It was a staggering £1 for admission but, sadly for me, no programme was issued tonight (though they apparently do issue for Saturday games).

Both sides began their respective seasons by crashing out of the Welsh Cup at the first hurdle before beginning their 2011/12 Welsh National League campaigns with a 5-0 reverse at home to Brickfield (Llay) and a 3-2 win at home to Mold Alex (Brymbo).

It was a bright sunny evening as the game kicked off, which didn't help matters if you happened to be looking into the sun, and as the game progressed a swirling wind began to pick up, which was never going to assist with flowing football.

The game was a tight affair, and became increasingly bad tempered as the clock ticked by, the referee was constantly stopping the play so the game never really got going. Llay probably shaded the first half on chances, but Brymbo always looked a threat on the break. Llay's first decent chance came early on when a Keith Evans shot was palmed over the bar by the Brymbo goalie. It was Evans who gave Llay the lead from the penalty spot on 33 minutes, after Owen Roberts had been deemed to have been fouled. It looked a soft one from where I was standing!

Llay began to take charge after the goal and Jack Mountford missed a glorious chance to extend the homesters lead when he went through one-on-one , but his weak shot was easily saved. On 41 minutes a poor Brymbo clearance was hit first time by Owen Roberts and the shot crashed against the crossbar. Whilst said bar was still rattling Brymbo broke up the other end of the field and a cross was volleyed home by Simon Richards to take the sides in level at the break.

The second half was a different story as Brymbo took control of the match. They had the majority of play and the best of the chances. Stuart Parry had a free kick fumbled on the line and the Llay goalie,Scott Evans, only just managed to save himself from being embarrassed. Parry also forced another point blank save from Evans. The inevitable winner came with 2 minutes remaining when a speculative cross caught the wind and had the Llay goalie backpeddling, he managed to push the ball onto the bar, but Richards was on hand to tap home to claim the three points.