Flint eased into the third round of this season’s JD Welsh Cup following a comfortable win over a spirited Bow Street, a Ben Wynne strike just before half time, followed by an Elliott Reeves brace, paving the way for the Silkmen.
The home side defended deep during the first period, proving a stubborn obstacle for Flint to negotiate. It was down the flanks that the visitors tended to make inroads, but the cross into the box was either met by a defensive header, or the final ball lacked that bit of quality to enable the attackers to pierce the back-line. When they did get sight of the goal, either a defender would throw his body into the firing line, or they come up against a goalkeeper in Lewis James, who was in inspired form, as Harry Owen discovered following a chance on the near post from a corner, James getting down well to pounce on his shot.
Reeves had a clear sight of goal in the 24th minute, when, following a short corner routine, Jake Phillips whipped the ball in, picking the striker out. His header looked to be heading into the corner, until James sprang across his goal, and palmed the ball out.
Josh Jones then swiped at a couple of chances in quick succession, where a bit more composure would have surely seen him find the target. First, Phillips made a good run infield from the right flank, before laying it off to Jones just inside the 18 yard box. Leaning back, his shot flew high over the bar. much to his disappointment. Then he was presented with a much closer opportunity, as Alec Mudimu crossed the ball into the 6 yard box. The incoming Jones connected with it, but once again lifted it over the bar.
Isaac Lee then went close, with a a low, long range shot that scudded past the post, but Bow street were gamely hanging on, and were presented with a rare chance of their own on 43 minutes, when Rhys Hughes profited from a mix up between two Flint players to skip clear. Getting into the area from wide on the right, he elected to try and curl a shot with the outside of his foot, but he didn’t get the necessary bend on it, and it sailed wide of Jack Flint’s far post.
James was then called into action once more, as he saved well with an outstretched leg to deny Ben Hughes. The Silkmen eventually made the breakthrough a minute before half time. Reeves sent a ball into the danger area from the left, and it wasn’t dealt with, falling to Ben Wynne who was positioned on the edge of the box. He showed no hesitation, and blasted the ball straight into the net, giving James no chance.
Bow Street tried to rally themselves at the start of the second half, and came out of their shell in an attempt to put more pressure on a hitherto fairly untroubled Flint defence. But despite their best efforts, they were unable to create any genuine clear cut opportunities in front of goal. This more positive approach adopted by the home side, inevitably meant that they started to leave more gaps at the back which had the potential to be exploited. And that’s exactly what happened on 67 minutes, as Flint struck for the killer second goal. A patient passing move ended with Jake Canavan unleashing a fierce shot that James beat out. An attempted clearance by a defender, under pressure from Hughes, only resulted in the ball looping back towards goal, with Hughes chasing it. It came back off the upright, with James flailing to get to it, and Reeves was handily positioned to take advantage and lash it into the net.
The introduction of George Maire and Cameron Ferguson shortly after gave Flint renewed vigour, and against a visibly tiring Bow Street, the threat of more goals was very apparent.
The third goal arrived on 75 minutes. Jack Thorn played a lovely weighted ball out of defence to set Maire on his way, and he galloped towards the bye line before pulling the ball back across goal for Reeves to finish from close range.
Maire was making his presence felt, and could have got on the scoresheet himself, when he lobbed James, but good covering by Joe Wozencraft saw him produce an acrobatic clearance on the goal line.
Reeves could then have sealed his hat trick when he was through one on one with James, but unselfishly slipped the ball to Maire. However, the youngster got it tangled up in his feet, and the Bow Street goal somehow survived the danger.
It was very much one way traffic in the closing stages, and Canavan could have capped a fine display with a goal, but not for the first time, James stuck out a leg to get a vital deflection on the ball and divert it from his goal.
In the end it was a well deserved victory for the Silkmen but full credit to Bow Street for the resistance they put up, making the visitors work hard for the win.
Report by Nigel Sheen
Line Ups :
Bow Street – L. James, S. Richards, T. Toberts, J. Wozencraft, C. Ferreira, R. Evans (H. Matthews 81), R. Hughes (Steffan Davies 81), G. Nutting (J. Crowl 69), Stef. Davies. J. Taylor (T. Watts 69), C. Carruthers (C. Perkins 47). Unused Subs – R. Bur (GK), T. Williams
Flint Town United – J. Flint, I. Lee, D. Davies (M. Burke 68), A. Mudimu (J. Thorn 60), H. Owen (c), J. Canavan, J. Phillips, B. Hughes (C. Ferguson 71), E. Reeves, B. Wynne (G. Maire 71), J. Jones (B. Woollam 68). Unused Subs – D. Szczepaniak (GK), K. Imariagbe
Flint MOM – Jake Canavan (displayed great creativity for his side)
