Skipper Harry Owen continued his fine goal scoring form against Briton Ferry Llansawel, taking his tally to five against the south Walians in the past three games, as he steered his team to victory.
Flint had to recover from conceding an early goal, when a misplaced pass set up the visitors for an attack after just 4 minutes. That error was compounded when the ball was failed to be cleared from the penalty box, and it fell invitingly to Ruben Davies, who needed no second invitation to sweep the ball home.
The Silkmen soon put that setback behind them, and from there on in, it was pretty much one way traffic, as they dominated play, but were up against a goalkeeper in fine form, in Will Fuller, who was determined to keep them at bay.
On 8 minutes, Mikey Burke accelerated away down the left and crossed into Darren Stephenson, who received the ball with his back to goal. He swivelled and shot, onl;y for Fuller to deny him with a point blank save. Flint continued to press, and looked dangerous from set piece plays. The equaliser arrived on the quarter of an hour mark, from a Jake Phillips corner. Owen drew away from his marker, as Phillips delivered it to the near post area, and he powered his header in despite Fuller’s best efforts to keep it out.
Flint now had the bit between their teeth, and a couple of minutes later, Elliott Reeves was released and Fuller came to his side’s rescue, saving with his legs. Phillips then swung in another corner that hit the bar as the home side continued to pile on the pressure.
Just after the half hour mark, a long throw ran threw to Stephenson, who took possession, turned and hit a low shot that Fuller managed to keep out at the foot of his post, when a strong hand diverted the ball out for a corner. The crossbar was then rattled for a second time as Owen sent a header onto the top of it.
Despite his team being in the ascendency at the break, manager Lee Fowler decided to make two substitutions in the interval, as he looked to up the ante, introducing Ben Hughes and Jake Canavan from the bench.
The second half had barely started when Reeves muscled his way into a good shooting position, only to miscue his shot, having done the hard work to make space for himself.
Canavan tested Fuller with a 25 yarder but the keeper was up to the challenge and pulled off a good save.
A lovely move almost paid dividends for the home side on 60 minutes. Canavan found Phillips with a raking cross field ball, and he in turn, played a nice ball into Hughes who connected with a delicate lob that Fuller managed to just tip over the bar.
The breakthrough for the winning goal came with 20 minutes remaining, and it was the same combination as the first goal. Phillips sent a ball over into the box, and it was met by Owen, this time on the back post, who headed in decisively to put his side into a well deserved lead.
This victory lifted Flint above Ferry in the table, and next weekend the Silkmen face the long journey to Haverfordwest to face a team who are currently struggling at the foot of the table.
Report by Nigel Sheen. Photos by Damon Mead.
Line Ups :
Flint town United – J. Flint, I. Lee, M. Burke (J. Jones 69), S. Fofana (J. Canavan 46) H. Owen (c), J. Thorn, J. Phillips, A. Mudimu, E. Reeves (D. Davies 90), B. Wynne (B. Hughes 46), D. Stephenson. Unused Subs – D. Szczepaniak (GK), K. Imariagbe, C. Ferguson
Briton Ferry Llansawel – W. Fuller, L. Bates, K. Jenkins, A. Gammond (c), O. Anderson (E. Sage 67), D. Packer, R-L Owen, T. Price, T. Walters, R. Davies, C. Hurford (R. Dyer 75). Unused Subs – Z. Ferguson (GK), D. Jefferies, C. Smith, R. Dyer, H. Chapman
Flint MOM – Harry Owen (solid defensively and broke Ferry’s resistance with two well timed headed goals)
