Flint made it two league wins from two games with a 2-1 victory over Prestatyn, with the same two goalscorers who netted in their opening day win, again on target.
The bulk of the chances fell the home side’s away, but they were almost left to rue their profligacy in front of goal, until Elliott Reeves popped up three minutes from time to net the winner.
Flint started brightly, and a Jake Phillips long throw on 9 minutes caused problems in the away defence. Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro met it with a flicked header towards goal, and Prestatyn keeper Mike Jones managed to tip it onto the bar and over.
A swift attack on 13 minutes paid dividends when Akpa-Akpro produced a fine threaded through ball that Harley Peagram managed to latch onto, and put himself into a one on one situation with Jones. The young striker kept his cool and calmly stroked the ball past Jones into the net.
Having gone a goal behind, Prestatyn rallied and served notice when an inswinging corner skimmed across the Flint crossbar. Then, on 32 minutes they were presented with a fine opportunity to get back on terms, when they were awarded a penalty following a late lunge for the ball by Anthony Stephens. Daniel Atkins stepped up for the visitors, and Rhys Williams brilliantly dived down to his right to keep out the spot kick. But the ball rebounded into the path of Atkins, who from close range looked odds on to score. Williams, however, somehow denied him with a world class stop from almost point blank range.
On 37 minutes, Akpa-Akpro seized on a loose ball and from fully 40 yards out spotted Jones off his line and attempted an audacious lob into the goal. Unfortunately, it thudded back off the post with Jones beaten.
Prestatyn’s height advantage was making it difficult for Flint to press home their possession advantage, as crosses and balls played up top were being repelled with comparative ease. But the forwards were doing their best to make a nuisance of themselves, particularly Peagram, who was ceaseless in his running, harrying and chasing.
A Phillips long throw on 65 minutes led to the ball falling to Peagram, but his well taken shot deflected just wide of the target.
Having been the hero of the first half, with his excellent double save, Williams became the villain on 70 minutes, when his attempted throw out was intercepted, and the ball squared to Rob Murphy, whose effort was blocked, only for it to fall to Dylan Dunne, who smashed it home into an empty net to get Prestatyn back on terms.
It was a bitter setback for the Silkmen, but to their credit they responded well. A free kick, two minutes later, found .Akpa-Akpro, but he headed wide from a good position.
On 75 minutes, Akpa-Akpro turned provider, when an excellent piece of skill saw him get to the bye line and deliver a great cross to Reeves, but he couldn’t get the right connection, and another opportunity went begging.
Reeves then spurned another chance on 80 minutes, when a Joe Williams cross found him, but he was unable to convert from close range. Williams, who had come on as a second half substitute, making his Flint debut, then tried a cross cum shot that almost caught Jones out, but he managed to claw the ball out from under the bar in the nick of time.
With three minutes remaining, Phillips hurled a throw in from inside the Prestatyn half down the touchline into Peagram, who showed good control, before cutting the ball back inside to Reeves, who applied a sublime finish to send it spiralling into the top corner.
Deep into added on time, Prestatyn pressed for an equaliser, and it was defender Joe White who came closest for his side, having been pushed up top for the final few minutes. First he met a cross from the left, but directed his header just wide of the post. Then he found himself in a decent position inside the box, but Williams stood up well and saved his shot.
In the end it was a deserved three points for the Silkmen, and a fitting send off for Iwan Williams on his last home game before he moves abroad with work. But they were made to work hard for it by a dogged Prestatyn side.
Report by Nigel Sheen; Photos by Damon Mead
Line Ups :
Flint Town United – R. Williams, J. Phillips, J. Jones (M. Roberts 89), A. Stephens (c), S. Forde, D. Harrison, L. Lacey (J. Williams 64), R. Kavanagh, H. Peagram, E. Reeves, J-L Akpa-Akpro. Unused Subs – J. Beswick, H. Cartwright, K. Mills
Prestatyn Town – M. Jones, E. Lawal, J. Rimmer, (J. Holden 88), J. White, S. Coulton, J. Cahill (c), M. Burke, K. Pearson (D. Dunne 16), R. Murphy, D. Atkins, M. Scoullar (T. Magee 64). Unused Sub – A. Mossman
Flint MOM – Harley Peagram (Scored his third goal in three games, provided a nice assist and was his team’s first line of defence)
