For a neutral, Flint games must be entertaining fayre this season, plenty of goals, and lots of attractive football on display. For a supporter, though, it can be pretty galling, as all too often points slip through our grasp, as the results don’t match the performance. And so it proved once again, as despite leading the second placed team in the league 3-2 with seven minutes remaining, we ended up losing 4-3, in another massive reversal of fortunes in the last 10 minutes of a game.
For the opening quarter, the visitors looked the more dangerous, pushing three up front, very often going one on one against the Flint defence. But the home side just about kept them at bay, and gradually started getting their own passing game going. And it was Flint who carved out the first real chance. A slick move down the right saw Ben Hughes cut the ball back into the path of Ben Wynne, and his fierce shot was pushed over the bar by Luke Armstrong in the Bont goal. However, from the resulting corner, the Silkmen took the lead. A Jake Phillips delivery picked out Harry Owen at the far post, he headed back across goal, and Jack Thorn was on hand to direct the ball into the corner of the net.
On the half hour mark it could have been 2-0 as Wynne played a nice ball across goal to find Mikey Burke who was in space. But Armstrong spread himself really well and blocked Burke’s effort.
Flint were now in the ascendency, but five minutes before the interval they found themselves pegged back, when a cross delivered to the far post saw Nathan Wood beat Isaac Lee in the air, and head back across goal into the path of Clayton Green who volleyed home.
Individual mistakes would go on to cost Flint dearly in the second period. On 50 minutes, Ashley Baker swung a ball in from the right that Alec Mudimu had time to clear, but he missed his kick and let in Nathan Daley who drilled a shot into the corner of the net.
The signs were then starting to look a bit ominous forthe home side, and a few minutes later, Green and Kane Owen played a nice 1-2 that saw Green race into the box, before cracking a shot against the crossbar from wide on the left.
To their enormous credit, Flint forced their way back into the match, and scored an equaliser on the hour mark. Jake Canavan picked out Phillips, who sent in a low cross from the right, that was initially blocked by Mark Little, but the ball only went as far as the supporting Wynne who lashed the ball in from 15 yards.
It got even better for the Silkmen on 67 minutes, when Canavan played a delightful ball to find Wynne who broke clear, and showed great presence of mind to square it to Burke, as Armstrong came out to close him down, and the wing back supplied a composed finish into the empty net.
Penybont were now rocking and Flint had a shout for a penalty when Thorn was upended in the box as he chased through for a ball, but the referee, who was well placed, decided the robust tackle was a fair challenge.
With seven minutes remaining, the whole game turned on its head. Owen, who had hitherto defended extremely well, failed to cut out a through ball, and James Crole raced onto it and rounded Dawid Szczepaniak, who was making his first appearance of the season between the sticks, in for the injured Jack Flint, to bring the scores level once more.
A couple of minutes later, an ill judged short pass in the middle of the park was intercepted, and set Bont up for a swift counter which they made the most of. The ball was slipped through to Wood, who was forced wide by Szczepaniak, but still got his shot in. Thorn just about managed to prevent it crossing the line, but Daley was following up and bundled it over the line to deliver a crushing blow to the Silkmen and earn his side all 3 points.
Report by Nigel Sheen
Line Ups :
Flint Town United – D. Szczepaniak, I. Lee, M. Burke, A. Mudimu, H. Owen (c), J. Thorn (B. Woollam 90), J. Phillips, B. Hughes, E. Reeves (J. Jones 76), B. Wynne (K. Imariagbe 90), J. Canavan (C. Ferguson 90). Unused Subs – Z. Dempsey (GK), G. Maire, D. Davies
Penybont – L. Armstrong, A. Baker, K. Owen (c) (J. Jones 68), G. Kirkough, M. Little (J. Woodwiss 80), M. Davies, N. Wood, O. Pritchard (K. Ludvigsen 68), C. Green, J. Crole, N. Daley (B. Borge 90). Unused Subs – T. Price (GK), I. Phillips, O. Warlow
Flint MOM – Ben Wynne (provided an excellent goal and assist for his side)
