Cymru Alliance news from welsh-premier.com
Late winner sends Flint clear at the top
The Lawmen looked to have earned a draw until Williams netted in stoppage time.
Llandudno were held to a goalless draw at home by Bethesda Athetic, but there were plenty of goals at Penrhyncoch where the hosts beat Berriew 4-3.
Goals from Chris Wilkins and Ashley Stephens put Penrhyn two-nil ahead, but Martin Ziamann fired a hat-trick inside four minutes to give the visitors the lead.
But after Hughes had levelled, Mark Egan grabbed the winner from the penalty spot with five minutes remaining.
On Tuesday night, Buckley Town won 2-0 at Mold Alex with goals from Joe Desormeaux and Gareth Edwards.
Silkmen top on goal difference
Ywain Gwynedd gave the home side the lead but a stoppage-time strike from Danny Hughes snatched a point for the visitors.
Flint Town United regained control on goal difference with a 3-0 win at Ruthin, who had Mark Hobson red-carded in the second-half.
Paul Williams, Alan Dawson and Jon Kennedy with a penalty were the Silkmen's scorers.
Buckley Town seized third place with a 2-0 win at bottom club Gresford Athletic, with Stuart Hayes and recent signing Tom McGill on target.
Graham Randles scored a brace for Mold Alexandra in a 4-2 win at Berriew, while both sides finished with 10-men at Stansty Park where Jon Rowley and Craig Griffiths were sent-off as Lex XI went down 1-0 to Holyhead Hotspur.
Photo: Buckley were 2-0 winners at Gresford's Clappers Lane [Nic Johnston].
Caernarfon secure their future
George Denham and Eilian Angel have agreed to relinquish control of the club to a new core team of officials and supporters, led by Arfon Jones as interim chairman.
Geraint Williams is the new manager, succeeding Simon Sedgwick, with Ernie Talbot as his assistant.
"Both Geraint and Ernie are well known locally on the football scene and have had significant playing and managerial experience with Caernarfon in the past.," says a statement from The Oval.
"The new team will meet formally for the first time on Monday night and have much to discuss, including:
- Setting out the financial, administrative and logistical implications of managing Caernarfon Town's future. As part of this it is proposed to launch a public appeal for support to help build the club for the future.
- Securing the club's presence in the Cymru Alliance for the remainder of the season.
- Ensuring that Caernarfon Town can provide support to the management team on the field and has the cohort of players willing to play and give their commitment to the cause for this season and beyond.
- Recruiting a strong and committed team off the field to formulate a plan for taking the club forward and developing a robust business model for the future.
"Integral to all this has been the cooperation and support of the existing board members, George Denham and Eilian Angel," the statement continues.
"Their commitment to ensuring Caernarfon Town's future without personal interest or prejudice has been very much appreciated.
"The two, who between them have given over 50 years of service to Caernarfon Town, have given their all to ensuring that this club has a future and have been extremely supportive and cooperative during this difficult time, always having the interest of the club at heart and working dilgently with us to find a solution and a way forward."
Arfon Jones adds: "George Denham is, and always has been, a Caernarfon Town man through and through and, as a goodwill gesture, is paying the club fine imposed by the Welsh FA out of his own pocket, which is very much appreciated.
"The new team also want it noted that the Cymru Alliance League and the clubs in the league have been tremendously supportive and understanding and have given the club the breathing space it desperately needed.
Sedgwick almost certain to quit Canaries
Last week the Canaries were suspended from playing in all competitions for non-payment of fines to the FAW and Sedgwick (pictured), who took over at The Oval last November, told the Caernarfon Herald that the club’s current crisis had made his role unworkable.
"When Paul Dodd and I took over we were promised A, B and C and A, B and C have not been delivered," said Sedgwick.
"The players have been led to believe the club is going to fold and some have already left with others due to go at the end of this week.
"It’s all left a bad taste in the mouth and as we speak now I’m 90% certainly I’ll be leaving."
Sedgwick added he would postpone a final decision until he knows the outcome of a last-ditch rescue bid by fans to save the club and is keeping in touch with group chairman Arfon Jones, as well as club secretary Geraint Jones.
"Geraint and Arfon have been brilliant, but I’m very disappointed that club chairman George Denham has not been returning my calls," said the manager.
This meant Town had to call off last weekend’s match at Llanfairpwll, which could mean a three-point deduction.
As a goodwill gesture, the league has allowed Caernarfon to postpone this Saturday’s fixture with Penrhyncoch to give the club more time to sort out its difficulties.
"It’s always been an uphill struggle," admitted Sedgwick. "I’ve been disappointed with results, but I do believe we’ve been getting stronger.
"It’s very sad if Caernarfon go under as it’s a big club, but I think this is a warning to a lot of other clubs that this is the way things can go if you’re relying on one person to finance you.
"It looks inevitable that if the club survives it will go down, but I hope it can regroup and grow again."
Rescue plan hope for the Canaries
Llangefni return to the top
The Bucks took the lead after just three minutes through Gareth Edwards, but the Anglesey outfit levelled through Ywain Gwynedd (pictured) and Marc Evans got the winner 15 minutes from time.
With the chasing pack in league cup action on Saturday, there was a 10-goal affair at Tower Fields, where Llangollen Town beat Mold Alex 6-4.
Jon Taylor and Simon Hulse both notched a brace for the hosts, with Chris Guye scoring twice in vain for the visitors.
Bethesda Athletic also hit six at bottom club Gresford's Clappers Lane, Gareth Davies leading the way with two.
Ruthin Town hit back from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 at Denbigh after Liam Jones and Tom Sharples had put the hosts in front.
Tryffan Prosser and Mike Garrod secured a point for Adie Jones's side.
In the Welsh League, Goytre United took advantage of their rivals' inactivity to move seven points clear at the top, with a 1-0 win over Garden Village.
Chasers Caldicot Town and Afan Lido now have to games in hand.
End of the line for Canaries
The Canaries were suspended from all football activities on Thursday due to non-payment of fines to the FAW and, according to a statement on the club's forum, chairman George Denham says he has been unable to raise the neccessary funds for the club to continue for the rest of the season.
The club's players, who have reportedly not been paid for a month, have been told they are released and can join new clubs this afternoon making them eligible to play for their respective new clubs tomorrow.
"It is almost 100% certain that the club will now fold," adds the statement.
With a history dating back to 1876, Caernarfon were one of the clubs to resist the FAW's move to form the League of Wales and continued to play in the Northern Premier League.
They were forced to play their 'home' games more than 100 miles away at east Manchester club Curzon Ashton and later in Ellesmere Port.
But, following a series of mediocre performances over a five-year period, the club’s board of directors decided to return to Welsh soccer and joined the domestic league in 1995.
Their heyday came in 1996/7 when they challenged Barry Town for the league title, eventually finishing fourth, with striker Eifion Williams scoring 34 goals from 37 starts and winning Wales Under-21 honours before his move to Jenner Park.
Relegated in 2000, they returned as Cymru Alliance champions 12 months later, but recent seasons have brought poor results and they spent nearly all last season in bottom place before being relegated again.
The club is informing the Cymru Alliance that it is unable to fulfil Saturday's fixture at Llanfairpwll, but is yet to resign from the league officially.
Denbigh take advantage with Mold win
Jamie Duffy got the winner with five minutes left on the watch after Graham Randles had levelled a 29th-minute Jamie Hobson penalty for the visitors.
On Friday night, fourth-placed Buckley Town were held to a 1-1 draw at Holyhead, where Chris Saxin got an 83rd-minute equaliser for Hotspur after Wes Brereton had put the Bucks into a first-half lead.
Despite having Richard Astley and Mark Davies both red-carded, Guilsfield beat lowly Llangollen Town 3-2 thanks to a hat-trick from Ross Frame.
The visitors ended the game a man short after Simon Edwards was also dismissed.
Photo: Action from Mold's home defeat by Denbigh [Nic Johnston].
Alliance launches new website
An improved design has several new features, including video highlights of recent games, more in-depth news coverage, club maps and information, and a history of the league since its inception.
The site is at http://cymru-alliance.pitchero.com/
Colwyn Bay loanee for the Bucks
Manager Gareth Thomas is keen to ensure he has enough goals in the side for the crucial fight for Cymru Alliance survival over the coming weeks and a possible tilt at the NEWFA Cup.
McGill (pictured) was plucked from West Cheshire League Football by Bay manager Neil Young after scoring 28 goals for Capenhurst Villa and has shown that he was able to adapt to Unibond League football without any issues.
McGill will compete with Phil Molyneux, Liam Caddick and Stuart Hayes for a place in the starting line-up when the Bucks host Holyhead Hotspur on Friday evening.
"I have known about Tom's ability for a couple of seasons after having my sides play against Capenhurst on a number of occasions and Tom was always the standout player, the fact he has adapted very well at Unibond level says to me he will be a real force in the Cymru Alliance," says Thomas.
Photo courtesy Colwyn Bay FC.
Unconvincing Silkmen back on top
Despite their one-man deficit, Athletic took the lead 10 minutes from time through Gareth Davies, but Paul Williams snatched an equaliser for the Silkmen in the 87th-minute.
Caernarfon Town lost again, 2-0 at Denbigh Town, where a goal in each half from Darren Cassidy and Kevin Evans sealed the home side's win.
Llanfairpwll took the lead through Richard Owen at home to Holyhead Hotspur, who levelled through Curt Williams.
All the other teams were involved in cup action.
Evans fires Cefni back to the summit
Marc Evans (pictured) grabbed a brace in the sixth and 67th-minutes, with Graham Austin adding the third nine minutes from time.
But fourth-placed Buckley Town were shocked 1-0 at home by Lex XI, for whom Rene Pinard scored the only goal from the penalty spot on the hour mark.
Caernarfon Town's woes continued as they crashed 5-1 at Holyhead Hotspur, Kenleigh Owen with a brace among the home side's scorers.
Silkmen held in Flint derby
Shaun Beck had fired the Silkmen ahead from the penalty spot on 23 minutes, but the hosts fought back to lead through Ian Evans and Jamie Duffy.
Both sides finished the game with 10-men following the dismissals of Richard Williams Cooke and Simon Thelwell.
Second-placed Llangefni gained ground with a 4-0 win at Llangollen, courtesy of goals from Ywain Gwynedd, Danny Glyn Roberts and a brace from Marc Evans, but had Robbie Williams red-carded.
Llandudno romped to a 6-2 win at Ruthin after trailing two-nil to goals from Will Roberts and Kev Garland.
Gareth Evans, Luke Carding, Danny Hughes, Lee Thomas, Ben Dews and Glyn Peters hit back for the visitors.
Buckley Town's winning run was ended at Guilsfield, where John Leonard equalised a 14th-minute Ross Frame goal in a 1-1 draw that leaves the visitors in fourth place, one point behing Llandudno.
Photo: Buckley's Colin Quirk battles in midfield [Nic Johnston].
Silkmen stay five points clear
Matthew Roberts took advantage of a fumble by the Canaries' keeper on the half-hour, and prolific striker Shaun Beck sealed the win nine minutes into the second half.
Second-placed Llangefni Town went nap with a 5-1 demolition of Berriew, with Lee Craven, Danny Roberts, Marc Evans, Kevin Lloyd and Darren Gowans sharing the goals.
With Llandudno out of action due to a postponement, Buckley Town claimed third place by beating Penrhyncoch 2-1 at Globe Way after Richard Evans had given the visitors a 65th-minute lead.
They hit back with an equaliser from recent signing Dave Hughes and Neil Wynne grabbed a late winner with a spectacular overhead kick.
Ruthin won the local derby at Llangollen 2-1 with Mike Garrod seizing on a mistake by keeper Paul Evans for the first goal. Aaron Aby levelled for the hosts but, with two minutes left, Garrod snatched his second for the winner.
Flint held but extend their lead
Second-placed Llangefni Town were without a game, but Buckley closed the gap on the leading trio with a 4-1 home success over Llangollen Town.
Former Airbus frontman Neil Wynne notched a brace for the Bucks with ex-Cefn Druids defender Aaron Aby and Paul Griffiths both putting through their own goal for the others.
Caernarfon Town's woes continued with a 3-1 defeat at Guilsfield with Rob Cookson, Graham McGill and a Ross Frame penalty their undoing.
Former Nomad Tommy Mutton fired Denbigh Town in front at Berriew, but Martin Ziamann levelled for the home side eight minutes from time.
Photo: Action from Buckley's win over Llangollen [Nic Johnston].
Canaries look at Bala defender
The centre half and former Liverpool trainee (pictured) has not featured much this season for Bala and Sedgewick would love to add him to his squad.
"Colin Caton asked me to take a look at him so he has been training with us over the last couple of weeks, it is not certain yet but we remain hopeful to bring him into the club," explained Sedgewick to the Caernarfon Herald.
Meanwhile, Cymru Alliance rivals Buckley Town say that midfielder Colin Quirk is staying at Globe Way after attracting interest from Airbus UK Broughton.
"Colin played for Airbus last night in a friendly against Wrexham so that Craig Harrison could take a look and secondly to give him 45 minutes game time as he looks to improve his fitness," says Bucks' chairman Stewart Roberts.
"Colin has agreed that his short term future is best spent helping his team mates achieve the highest possible Cymru Alliance position and try to help them to a run in the NEWFA Cup."
But loanee Jack Rowlands has returned to The Airfield from Buckley after three months at the club.
Alliance leading trio all winners
They ran out 2-0 winners at Holyhead Hotspur with goals from Stefan Halewood on 17 minutes and Paul Williams midway through the second half sealing the points.
Second-placed Llangefni Town romped to a 5-2 success at Ruthin with Darren Thomas (pictured) notching a quick-fire brace in the first half.
Further goals from Chris Williams and Darren Gowans extended the lead and, although Jack Williams replied twice for the hosts, Marc Evans made it a nap hand with his first goal since returning from a loan spell at Porthmadog.
Llandudno remained third with a 4-0 win over lowly Gresford Athletic at Maesdu Park.
Spurs to discover fate on Thursday
The Anglesey outfit failed to arrive for the game at Tower Fields after the bus company due to transport them let them down at the last minute.
At a hearing in Deganwy, the league found the Harbourmen guilty of breaking rule 9b and handed out a three-point penalty and a £100 fine.
Holyhead have appealed to the FAW and their hearing date has now been set for Thursday January 21.
The rule states any club failing to keep its engagement or causing a game to be abandoned without giving a reason deemed satisfactory by the management committee shall have three points deducted and be fined.
The bus company sent a letter to the league admitting it was responsible for the team's no-show and Hotspur's media officer Gareth Davies says: "Holyhead Hotspur feels strongly that we were the innocent party in this."
Silkmen turn down 'lucrative' offers
Central defender Davies, who made 134 Welsh Premier appearances for Airbus UK Broughton, was subject to an approach from Colwyn Bay, where he spent a month in pre-season with the Llanelian Road outfit in summer 2008.
Captain and leading scorer Beck, who featured briefly for Connah's Quay on second forms in season 2004/5, was wanted by Bala Town.
"Both have shown their loyalty and commitment to Flint Town United by turning down what were very lucrative offers to stay and hopefully gain some silverware for their home town club," says a statement from the Silkmen.
Photo: Davies (left) in Airbus UK colours tackles Aberystwyth's Glyndwr Hughes.
Holyhead lose at home to Guils
Matt Newtown put the mid-Wales villagers in front on 22 minutes and, although Dean Garmey levelled, Graham McGill quickly restored the visitors' advantage.
Ross Frame added a third on 65 minutes, with Mel McGinness notching what proved to be a mere consolation 11 minutes from time.
And to add to the home side's woes, both Curt Williams and Chris Saxon were red-carded.
The whole of Saturday's Welsh League Division One programme was wiped-out by snow and frozen pitches, adding to a mounting fixture backlog.


