The visitors faced an uphill struggle from the 19th minute, when Philip Mooney was red carded following a two footed challenge, although many observers felt the decision by the official was somewhat harsh. Just a minute later, Flint took the lead, when Jack Kenny, just like he did last week, opened the scoring for the Silkmen. This time he was in the right place at the right time to stick out a foot and guide Danny Harrison’s attempted shot into the goal. Just after the half hour mark, captain Alex Jones did some good work on the ball, and chipped to the back post, where the opportunity was gobbled up by Wilde who headed home a trademark goal.
Flint were now well and truly into their stride, and on 38 minutes, Ben Nash rose well to attack a corner. Shouts for handball as the ball was blocked were waved away by the referee.
At the start of the second half, Flint were camped in the Cefn half, forcing a succession of corners, but for all their possession, didn’t look like breaking down a resolute defence which was being well marshalled by ex-Silkman Tony Davies. That was until the introduction of Conor Harwood just before the hour mark, who when he came on added an injection of pace and urgency into the home side’s play.
On 58 minutes he galloped down the right, before being cynically tripped. However, the ball broke free to Jake Phillips who was supporting on the overlap, and he delivered a ball to the far post, but Wilde, under pressure from a defender was just unable to turn it home.
Callum Bratley cut in from the left wing on 65 minutes, displayed some tricky footwork to send a defender the wrong way and open up some space, before shooting from an acute angle to sting the fingers of Druids keeper Mike Wilde, who did well to parry the shot for a corner.
Another goal looked to be coming for Flint, and it arrived on 80 minutes. Jones collected the ball in midfield and made the most of the space afforded to him when he carried it forward, before releasing it at exactly the right moment, rolling it into the path of Harwood on the right. He in turn whipped the ball in from the right flank, and Wilde made a darting run to get ahead of his defender and turned the ball in at the near post.
Four minutes later, Harwood was again tormenting the Druids defence, breaking into the box, and a visibly tiring Davies bundled him over near the bye line conceding a penalty. Wilde stepped out to confidently strike the ball home and claim his first hat-trick in Flint colours, putting the seal on another emphatic win for Neil Gibson’s side.
