Lee Fowler rung the changes for this Nathaniel MG Cup tie, in order to give more minutes to players in the squad. And those that came in grasped the opportunity to impress with both hands as Flint eased into the next round, which will be a local derby against our old rivals Connah’s Quay Nomads.
Mark Cadwallader celebrated his return to the team with a goal on 9 minutes, as Flint made a brisk start to the game. Harley Brindley-Peagram won the ball high up the field, and found Flint’s skipper for the night, Harry Owen. The defender, in turn, slipped the ball into Cadwallader’s path, and the striker quickly got back into the old routine by beating a couple of players before unleashing a shot into the back of the net.
Brindley-Peagram was making a big impact on the game, and got in on the scoring action on 25 minutes with a fine solo effort. He intercepted a loose ball, ran past two defenders and applied a lovely finish to double his side’s advantage.
Flint were threatening to make the game safe before half time, and only a top drawer save by Ruthin keeper Ryan Goldston prevented Tyler Garratt from making it three.
However, just after the interval, the Silkmen did effectively kill the game off, as Jayden Major, who was on as a second half substiture, slipped the ball home for Flint’s third in the 47th minute.
Cadwallader was replaced on the hour mark by Ben Hughes, having got some valuable minutes into his legs, and then Ashton Mather came on for Garratt, to make his senior debut.
Ruthin staged a late rally, and Sam Jones grabbed a consolation on 83 minutes, when, following a bit of a mix up at the back, he nipped in ahead of Dawid Szczepaniak to slot home. But Flint held firm for the remaining minutes to book their place into the next round.
Line Ups :
Ruthin Town – R. Goldston, J. Sullivan, M. Evans, V. Mbolokele, T. Dyer, O. Davies (c) (I. Hughes 46), C. Williams, S. Rickett (E. Davies 67), O. Morris (S. Jones 67), W. Owen. Unused Subs – D. Cox, J. Jones
Flint Town United – D. Szczepaniak, T. Garratt (A. Mather 61), O. Ibrahim, B. Diau, H. Owen (c), L. Ellis (B. Beaumont 46), L. Cole, M. Roberts, J. Hindle (J-L Akpa-Akpro 53), M. Cadwallader (B. Hughes 57), H. Brindley-Peagram (J. Major 46). Unused Subs – H. Allen, J. Carroll
Flint MOM – Harley Brindley-Peagram (a tremendous first half display from the youngster which gave his team the platform for victory)
