In what looked as though it was going to be a tough game on paper, Flint came through reasonably well and arguably created the better chances although they were generally few and far between, in what became something of a war of attrition between the two sides.
After an opening passage of play that was very much a stop-start affair, the Silkmen took the lead on 26 minutes from a corner. Tylet Garrat was the provider with an inswinging delivery towards the far post, and Harry Owen met it perfectly with a bullet header to plant the ball past Kelland Absalom in the Penybont goal.
On 35 minutes, Flint had a chance to double their lead, when Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro flicked on into the path of Mark Cadwallader, who was starting his first league match of the season for the Silkmen. As he was being closed down, Cadwallader got away his shot from just inside the box, but he screwed it wide of the target.
Bont scored the equaliser with two minutes to go to the break. Kai Whitmore did well after receiving the ball on the right side, getting to the bye line, before weaving his way into the area and crossing low to Rhys Kavanagh, whose shot was well blocked on the line by Owen. However, the ball broke to Ryan Reynolds 22 yards out, and he stroked a first time effort into the net for a well taken goal.
Chances continued to be at a premium in the second half. On the hour mark, Jay Owen lofted a ball into the box from a free kick, and Akpa-Akpro met it, but could only direct his header over the bar.
From a long throw on 73 minutes, Penybont missed a good opportunity, as the ball was flicked onto Billy Borge, but from a well placed position, the central defender only succeeded in scooping the ball into the grateful arms of Harry Allen in the Flint goal.
As the clock ticked down, Flint created a couple of chances that could have secured them all 3 points, both of which fell to Larnell Cole, who did well after coming on as a second half substitute. On 86 minutes he cut inside before unleashing a shot that Absalom got down well to save. Then, at the end of regulation time, he blasted a shot over the bar when well placed from 12 yards out.
A draw was probably about right at the end of the day, and each side will be reasonably pleased with a point, with both sets of defences doing well. For Penybont, their right back Mark Little, stood out, whilst for Flint it was the central pairing of Brandon Diau and Harry Owen that caught the eye. Another positive for Flint fans was seeing Cadwallader back in action and the appearance of Okera Simmonds as a second half substitute, marking his return from an ankle injury.
Report by Nigel Sheen
Line Ups :
Flint Town United – H. Allen, B. Beaumont, T. Garratt (J. Carroll 54), A. Stephens, H. Owen, D. Harrison, B. Diau, J. Owen (c), J-L Akpa-Akpro, M. Cadwallader (O. Simmonds 52), B. Hughes (L. Cole 52) . Unused Subs – D. Szczepaniak (GK), J. Major, H. Brindley-Peagram, M. Roberts
Penybont – K. Absalon, M. Little, K. Owen (c), B. Borge, D. Jeffries, M. Davies, R. Kavanagh (K. Georgievsky 61), R. Reynolds, K. Reffell (L. Clutton 61 (T. Tweedy 89)), N. Wood, K. Whitmore (S. Snaith 61). Unused Subs – A. Pennock (GK), L. Sylvester
Flint MOM (Harry Owen – solid defensively and came up with a well taken goal)
