A disappointing derby day defeat at the hands of neighbours Holywell, saw Flint exit this season’s Nathaniel MG Cup at the first time of asking. The Silkmen were unable to hold onto a lead given to them by Darren Stephenson’s precision strike half way through the first period, conceding in stoppage time at the end of the half, before a fine individual goal from the visitors’ Fabrizio Murtas sealed their fate in the second 45 minutes.
The opening exchanges were somewhat frenzied, as was to be expected in a derby. The home side went close on 13 minutes, as George Maire was released down the right and he came in on goal before shooting across goal, the ball unfortunately striking the upright and staying out.
Following a free kick awarded on 24 minutes, Flint took the lead. The ball was hoisted into the box before being played back into the path of Stephenson who, without hesitation, drilled it into the bottom corner of the net.
Holywell almost hit back with an instant reply, as Tom Bibby let fly from the edge of the 18 yard area, only for Jack Flint to spring across his goal and push the shot around the post.
Maire had a great opportunity to double the lead on 38 minutes when he was through on goal, but Holywell keeper stuck out a big hand to deny the youngster his chance. Then almost immediately, the Wellmen raced up the other end and this time it was Flint to the rescue as he denied Murtas with a good save.
Ben Hughes tried to get on the end of a cross, and in doing so collided with Danby, incurring a head injury that caused a lengthy delay towards the end of the half. It was during the period of time added on for the stoppage that Holywell grabbed the equaliser. The Silkmen were a bit too zealous in pressing, leaving themselves exposed at the back, and a misplaced pass gifted possession away just inside the Holywell half. A quick ball released the evergreen Jamie Breese and he sprinted through from the halfway line, keeping his composure and planting his shot beyond Flint. It was a well taken goal from the forward, but a very cheap one to give away from the home side’s point of view, and came with virtually the last kick of the half.
The pace of the game slackened off in the second period. A half chance presented itself to Flint on 55 minutes, as Danby could only weakly palm the ball away from a cross when under pressure. It fell to Cameron Ferguson, who lobbed it back goalwards, but the effort lacked power and it was easily cleared off the line by a covering defender. Some nice play from Stephenson and Ferguson down the right, created another good chance, as following a slick one-two, Stephenson swung over a cross to the back post. However, good covering by Jack Sconce meant he reached the ball in the nick of time to put it out for a corner.
The winning goal arrived on 68 minutes, as Holywell won possession in midfield, and Murtas set off on a mazy run that eventually took him into the area and he swept the ball past Flint for a composed finish into the far corner.
There was still plenty of time for the home side to get back on terms, but their attacking play was laboured and too predictable, and crosses into the box were more hopeful than telling, and a lack of movement and anticipation from the forwards made the job of the Holywell defence all too easy.
Murtas could have grabbed his second in the 90th minute, as he wriggled through some challenges, taking advantage of a couple of favourable deflections, before shooting just the wrong side of the post.
A huge 8 minutes of added on time was played, a combination of injuries and time wasting, and even though Flint forced a series of three consecutive corners, they were unable to force the ball over the line, leaving their opponents to claim a place in the next round and grab the derby day spoils.
Next Friday evening we play our first league game when we make the trip to Maes Tegid, to take on Bala Town (kick off 7-45pm).
Report by Nigel Sheen
Line Ups :
Flint Town United – J. Flint, B. Woollam, M. Burke, S. Fofana, H. Owen (c), G. Maire, J. Phillips, B. Hughes (J. Jones 70), C. Ferguson (J. Thorn 78), B. Wynne, D. Stephenson (J. Faux 73). Unused Subs – D. Szczepaniak (GK), E. Reeves, Callum Ferguson, L. Morrison
Holywell Town – J. Danby, Z. Kempster-Down (J. Stead 70), J. Cooke, G. Williams, I. Hewitt, D. Sullivan (c), T. Bibby, J. Sconce (O. Buckley 90), J. Breese (I. Ap Gareth Jones 72), C. Lindfield, F. Murtas. Unused Subs – T. French (GK), C. McGovern, I. Dowsett
Flint MOM – Harry Owen (the skipper turning in a reliable performance for his side)
