Lex stun champions with 96th minute winner

PREMIER DIVISION
FC Queen’s Park 2 Lex XI 3
Nicky Chesters’ 96th minute winner against his former club earned Lex a thrilling opening day victory over the champions.

This was an industrious affair, with both teams going hell for leather to win the game.

At times the Lawmen were under constant pressure but dug in and got forward to catch the Park on the break.

With last season’s Premier top-scorer Michael Latham as normal causing the visitors all sorts of issues, the, Park took the lead through Leroy Ngema.

The equaliser came via a great cross from Chesters and pressure from Kian Davies meant Rhys Hughes had no option but to put the ball in his own net.

Kian Davies was rewarded for his hard work as he sprang the offside trap to poke home and give Lex a 2-1 lead.

Queen’s Park came back and a brilliant top corner free kick from 25 yards by Tony Jones sent the home support into raptures.

The hosts now pressed for the winner having brought attacking players Harley Steel and Edgar Lima on to do the job.

However, Lex’s defensive line was superb all day and shut their opponents out.

The Lawmen had the more clear cut chances late on and right at the death Chesters rolled in a winner, prompting wild celebrations from the Lex line.

Caerwys 5 Ruabon Rovers 5
All-square in a 10-goal thriller between two promoted sides who fought tooth and nail for the Championship Division title last season.

Rovers prevailed on that occasion, despite ‘Wys not losing a game all campaign, but on Saturday it ended five-apiece at Lon-yr-Ysgol.

Chris Bennion and Joshua Hughes (2) put Ruabon three-up before the half-hour, but Caerwys hit back through a Matthew Gilsenan double before Conner Kendrick added a fourth for the visitors.

More drama in added time at the end of the half as Kieron Day and Jack Griffiths netted for the hosts to make it 4-4 at the midway stage.

Jimmy Jones restored the Rovers lead early in the second period, but Adam Woosey levelled it on 68 and 5-5 is how it remained.

Coedpoeth United 1 Rhostyllen 4
Relegated from tier 3 last season, Rhostyllen made a strong start to life in the North East Wales Premier as a Lewis Clamp hat-trick and William Roberts single booked a 4-1 win at Coedpoeth, who netted first through Adam Lloyd.

Greenfield 0 Corwen 2
Owen Cordiner (20 minutes) and Robbie Williams (81) supplied the goals which got another relegated club, Corwen, off to a winning start to 2023-24.

Mynydd Isa 1 Connah’s Quay Town 0
Kris Turner’s 42nd minute strike ensured Mynydd Isa repeated their recent Welsh Cup win over Connah’s Quay Town.

Penyffordd Lions 1 Castell Alun Colts 3
Ben Hughes’ goal gave Penyffordd a half-time advantage, but after the interval Nathan Davies, Luca Nardo and Daniel Woosey all netted to deliver Casty the spoils.

CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION
Aston Park Rangers 0 Overton Recreational 0
In a division which usually floods goals, these two sides produced a rare Championship scoreless draw.

Holywell United 8 CPD Bellevue 0
Tomos Dickinson (3), Kieran Durkin (2), Jordan Bedford, Jack Phillip Swinnerton and Isaac Haimes shared the goals for Holywell in this demolition job.

Johnstown 5 Brymbo 0
Keneth Davies pocketed a hat-trick for Johnstown, Joseph Davies and Callum Poole adding one apiece.

FC Plas Madoc 2 CPD Gronant 5
Dan Price (2), Gary Fazackerley, Luke Elden and Matthew Lewis all appeared on the scoresheet in an impressive Gronant triumph, Nicky Williams and Ryan Jakovlevs responding.

Rhydymwyn 1 Acton 2
Sam Giles’ double sank Rhydymwyn, who provided an added time reply from Ryan Davies.

CPD Yr Wyddgrug 2 CPD Sychdyn 2
Adam Woosey and Jordan Walker put Sychdyn two-up at the break, but much-improved Yr Wyddgrug hit back to snatch a draw courtesy of goals from Keiran Farr and David Jones.

RESERVE DIVISION
Coedpoeth United Reserves 4 Caerwys Reserves 2
Joshua Partington (2), Kevin Breeze and Adam Roberts combined to win this one for Coedy, Shane Wellings with a consolation pair for Caerwys.

Connah’s Quay Town Reserves 4 Corwen Reserves 2
Goals from Kian Harrison and Morgan Edwards established a two-goal half time lead for new side Corwen Reserves, but it all changed after the changeover, Ewan Jones, Damon Bradley and a Mark Davies brace winning it for Quay.

Mynydd Isa Reserves 7 Greenfield Reserves 1
Gethin Skates plundered a hat-trick in the final eight minutes to round off a resounding victory for Isa.

George Walshaw Davies, Kieran Jones (2) and Oliver Howarth added the rest for the hosts, a Dylan Ratcliffe net-finder having brought Greenfield level by half time.