North East Wales League veterans football – Nomads win seven-goal thriller, Hawarden make it five in a row

NORTH EAST WALES FOOTBALL LEAGUE VETERANS FOOTBALL – NOVEMBER 6/7
RESULTS
Veterans Premier Division
Buckley Town Vets 1 Ruthin Town Vets 5
Connah’s Quay Nomads Vets 4 Holt and Farndon Vets 3
Lex XI Vets 6 Shotton Steel Vets 4

Veterans Championship Division
Denbigh Wanderers Vets 5 Point of Ayr Vets 3
FC Queen’s Park 4 Penmaenmawr Phoenix Vets 1
Hawarden Rangers Vets 11 Mynydd Isa Spartans Vets 1

REPORTS
VETERANS PREMIER DIVISION
Connah’s Quay Nomads Vets 4 Holt and Farndon Vets 3
Nomads were made to fight hard to edge a tough battle against a strong Holt and Farndon side.

The Quay, with limited numbers, welcomed back Gaz Pringle in goal and Tommy Leonard in centre midfield.

Al Sumner, carrying an injury, started in right midfield, while player-manager Joey Ouslem made his first start of the season at left-back.

A less-than-convincing start from the reds led to Holt and Farndon winning an early penalty, which they scored from.

The visitors were on top, and Pringle came to the rescue a couple of times to keep the score at 1-0.

Nomads rallied and were given a lifeline when the away centre back was adjudged to have handled in the area. Leon Bowen converted from the penalty spot.

Half-time: CQNV 1-1 Holt and Farndon
When Holt and Farndon went ahead again after the break, it seemed to kick Nomads into gear.

Bowen made it 2-2 after being put through from some excellent play from the midfield.

Team top-scorer Bowen was in the mood, and after a weaving run past two defenders, he delicately chipped the onrushing keeper to claim his hat-trick.

And it got even better for Nomads, as Leonard, back after his brief spell out, netted to make it 4-2.

Things became difficult for Nomads after Danny Wade went down with a hamstring injury after some heroic defending.

Nomads had to see out the last 20 minutes with 10 men.

Hat-trick hero Bowen switched to centre back duties in an attempt to quell the inevitable pressure from the away side.

Holt and Farndon managed to pull one back, but Nomads held on for a fine win.

Nomads squad: Gaz Pringle, Martin Colecliffe, Danny Wade, Alec Sumner, Matty Roberts, Joey Ouslem, Matt Collings, Carl Endemano, Craig Worthington, Tony Hogan, Leon Bowen, Tommy Leonard.

Lex XI Vets 6 Shotton Steel Vets 4
Kevin Breeze notched a hat-trick as Lex won a 10-goal thriller against the Steelmen.

Lee Phelan, Richard Evans and Mark Williams also netted for the Lawmen, Paul Whittaker and Jon Kenworthy grabbing two apiece for the visitors.

Buckley Town Vets 1 Ruthin Town Vets 5
Ian Evans (2), Jordan MacCarter, Chris Williams and Matty Lowe got the goals which led Ruthin to an emphatic win at Buckley.

Barry Byrne replied.

VETERANS CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION
Mynydd Isa 1 (Wynne)
Hawarden Rangers Vets 11 (Phillips 3, Dawson 2, 1 pen; Pugh, Slade, N Jones, Auty, Henderson, Williams)
Five straight wins for Hawarden who remain top of the Championship.

Rangers travelled to face a Mynydd Isa side looking to cause an upset with a strong line up.

It was a blustery day at the battleground but Isa were blown away by the excellent standard the Rangers continue to produce.

The deadlock was broken on 12 minutes when midfielder Nick Jones fired a free-kick into the bottom corner from 25 yards.

It was 2-0 after 18 minutes when Matty Phillips curled an exquisite free kick over the wall and into the net.

Rangers stepped on the gas and Nick Henderson followed up a defensive block to drive the ball in for number three.

Isa continued to battle hard as they always do and got their rewards when a defensive mix up allowed Neil Wynne to race through and slot the ball past Ant Turton.

However, it became 4-1 after 30 minutes when Phillips got his second after good work from Steve Evans down the flank.

After 36 minutes Alan Dawson’s mazy run saw him drive into the box only to be brought down for a penalty. As always he picked himself up and stroked home.

Rangers then scored a contender for goal of the game and season.

Over 40 passes completed and one-touch football across the pitch led to a sublime cross from Graydon for Sam Pugh to rise high and send a thunderous header past the keeper to take it to 6-1 at half-time.

Isa again emerged determined but came unstuck with the quality of play and possession game of Rangers.

It took until the 70th minute and a raft of substitutions for the next goal of the game contender when good work from Rich Evans teed up Dom Auty, whose volley stuck right in the top corner from 30 yards.

Ant Williams shared some neat possession with Dawson and Phillips before curling into the bottom corner from 30 yards again.

Three minutes later the prolific Dawson, a handful all afternoon, slotted home after a through ball from Paul Wilcockson.

On 85 minutes Elliot Slade got on the score sheet after switching to right back in the second half.

The last goal fell to Phillips to complete his hat-trick following a neat 1-2 with Dawson.

Hawarden Rangers thanked Mynydd Isa and Argoed Social Club for their hospitality.

Denbigh Wanderers Vets 5 Point of Ayr Vets 3
Russ Vaughan and Dewi Jones both scored twice as Denbigh overcame the testing challenge of Point of Ayr to collect all three points.

Graham Owen was also on the scoresheet for the hosts.

The Colliers scored first very early on, but once Owen equalised Denbigh were always in command of the contest.

FC Queen’s Park 4 Penmaenmawr Phoenix Vets 1
Darren Jones and Darren Lloyd netted two apiece as the Park outscored the Phoenix.

Jones struck on 34 and 42 minutes, Lloyd after 27 and 70.

Pete Williams was Pen’s sole marksman.