DIDNT HOLYWELL HAVE A LOVELY TIME THE DAY THEY WENT TO BANGOR

HOLYWELL TOWN 3 V LLANRUG UTD 2 [AET 90 MINUTES 1-1]
MAWDDACH CUP FINAL @ THE BOOK PEOPLES STADIUM
9 MAY 2015 --- 2PM

MAWDACCH CUP AND THE TREBLE JOY IS EVIDENT

[Please pop along to the 'we all stand together' Facebook page for a selection of pictures from the day not used on the blog-they will be on shortly after the blog is published] [Any spell errors etc to be changed it was a long day and early start this morning!]
A remarkable treble was achieved by Holywell Town adding the Mawddach cup to the already secured Lock Stock Welsh Alliance title and the FAW Trophy.  But how they had to strain every sinew today to beat an excellent Llanrug who must have been devastated at the end they had gone so close but in the end 5 minutes from the end Luke Tyson had supplied the knock out blow.

WELCOME TO BANGOR

Superlatives fail to describe the journey The Wellmen have gone on firstly re invigorated by its officials, developed by its management and players and superbly supported by its followers.  I will try to put some links on the Facebook page but you only have to look at social media to see video, reports etc to realise the potential here especially for next season as the club takes its place in the Huws Gray League when it faces some tantalising challenges against local opposition.  In previous coverage of Holywell I have been privileged to see some superbly joyful celebrations from John Haseldin and his team and today was wonderfully no different.
Here we go then onto Bangor and the day before returning to the on field encounter.  Usual early start, bleary 6.15am, changing at Manchester and then Llandudno Junction, after the latter it was a new experience for me having visited our ultimate destination just once previously but on a bus journey from Llandudno.  We rattled over the Conwy rail bridge and snuggled up to the walls of Conwy castle before departing the pretty town right at the side of Conwy Borough's ground.  Onward to Bangor exiting the tunnel into the station at 1130. Its an interesting station as both ends of the station have a small run back onto central through lines before entering tunnels.  Todays kick off had been brought forward half an hour to 2pm, sadly that left me a little less time to explore but equally with the added extra time allowed me to return at 10pm instead of nearer midnight!

THE FORMER SITE OF BANGOR CITY @ FARRAR RD

MEMROBILLIA AT BANGOR CITY FC

My first intention was to cross the road from the station and pay homage to Farrar Rd site of the former Bangor City ground.  The ground was left to the people of Bangor for perpetuity but as times developed certain battles and progress[?] had seen the site lost and a major superstore developed on the site.  I remember on my previous visit taking a look at Farrar Rd on a non match day, an old style ground with tremendous character and of course history through all its corridors.  By most accounts the ground was falling into disrepair and I guess the option of the move became more attractive many interesting games had taken place non more so than the 80's European game versus Athletico Madrid when the club had to make major improvements to the ground, including installing supporter anti pitch invasion fences around the ground.
Hopefully you will see with some of the pictures on the Facebook the old ground means a lot to the club within their bar at the new Nantporth ground there is a catalogue of evocative history mounted on the walls and very interesting it is too.  To this though, unless I missed something, I would like to add what a disgrace that there is not a mention
of what once stood on the developed Farrar Rd site not plaque, statue or even a history board telling of the great times, what a shame!  The ground was part of the time and so closely embedded within the town unlike todays ground which it has to be said like many is pushed out of the town into a very weird position close by the Menai Bridge accessed by a very circuitous route, nice ground it is though.

PENRHYN BAY VIEW FROM THE PIER APPROACH

One of the needed highlights of this visit was to pop along to the Victorian pier something I had not visited in my previous encounter with the city.  The only difficult point was it needed a 20 minute walk in the opposite direction to the ground bit wow was it worth it.  Its a fantastic breath taking experience offering tremendously moody views on this low cloud day and the pier well an honesty box of 50p for entrance was fed and well worth it to keep this superb 'experience' in situ.

THE VICTORIAN PIER AT BANGOR

Back to the 'city' and off via the steep climb and ultimate descent to Nantporth and the Book People ground of Bangor City.  There is a moment when the superb Menai Bridge comes into view with the ground 3g pictch and floodlights in the foreground allowing a moments intake of breath at yet another stunning view in this lovely city.  The approach to the ground is very much like all new builds off a main road onto an approach road walk way and then the main building of the beige brick variety of which behind it the stands nestles into the bank as the ground is set at a lower level again and to the far side it drops away to the banks of the estuary that separate mainland from Anglesey.

THE IMPRESSIVE MAIN STAND AT NANTPORTH

The turnstile approach is a modern built block of full size barred turnstile and then its down three flights of steps to the pitch, I'm not sure how this got passed as an entrance to the ground, there is though a sloped entrance to the far side of the ground accessed by the exit gates for anybody with mobility problems.  There was a club shop perched on the high level by your immediate entrance sadly though this was closed today.  Immediately to your right as you come down the steps following a little break of tarmac is the impressive main stand with its blue tip up seats set in the bank side with to the rear the impressive function room and bar also at this level is the changing rooms meaning that the pitch is accessed by a covered stairway before entering the pitch through the usual extendable player tunnel.  The stand weirdly has a block of seats that juts out from the stand and is completely uncovered I would love to know why that was but overall its the impressive part of this ground. 

ATCOST's AT BANGOR CITY FC

Opposite the main stand to the left are two Atcost stands each with 4 rows of seats one two theirs smaller than the other and straddling the half way line the obligatory and large tv gantry. to the top side and the far behind goal terracing is smart flat concrete standing.  Behind both goals are two stepped concrete terracing and behind either is a neat grassed area.  By the entrance steps the snack bar did good business during the match, situated to either side of the ground were two toilet blocks.  It is of course all very modern but neat and has room for development, it had been on the to do list and it was I have to say great to finally visit this smart set up.

LLANRUG UTD FC 2015 MAWDACCH CUP FINALISTS

CECIL ARRIVES FAMILY SOON FOLLOW

So the Mawddach cup final sees Llanrug Utd look to stop Holywell's march to the treble and the prospect were encouraging because they had beaten The Wellmen in The Cookson cup.  The Mawddach cup is for the teams in both divisions of The Welsh Alliance Lock Stock League and today there was to be a good following from both clubs with the most Welsh I have heard spoken in any ground this season being evident that it felt like a game in a foreign country, even though I have picked a little of the lingo up its a different entity when its being spoken at ten to the dozen.
As the build up continued it was clear that the sent off star of the FAW Trophy final had served his suspension and during his time away from the game had been up to a bit of breeding because his family had multiplied as there was a certain amount of baby crocs as well as adult crocks in evidence today.

MATCH OFFICIALS AND CAPTAINS SAM JONES [HOLYWELL] AND EIFION WILLIAMS AT KICK OFF

The first half was a disjointed affair with both sides struggling to get a lot of free flowing football going but it sprung to life on 25 minutes when Llanrugs Terry Jones won an excellent tackle and supplied a superb cross for Jonathan Peris Jones to sweep the ball home in running at the back post.

PERIS-JONES [9] FIRES HOME TO GIVE LLANRUG THE LEAD

The lead for United seemed to fail to raise Holywell's game and they were looking tired and you did have to wonder whether this was one too many games in a long season.
Into the second half and Holywell were out of the blocks fast after the half time 'chat' Steve Thomas firing wide when clean through and then somehow failing to connect to a Paul Williams inch perfect cross.  After so many days when they had been Holywells was todays not to be?  Well on 59 minutes those question were starting to be answered when Matt Harvey powered home a superb header from 10 yards.

HOLYWELL MANAGER JOHN HASELDIN OBSERVES

The game now sprung to life and in the last 15 minutes both side took the gloves off and went for it with both keepers having to be fully alert to deny the oppositions strikers non more so than two minutes from the end when Mike Platt pulled off a superb save pushing over a stinging drive from Llanrug's Carl Griffiths.  It was enough to take the game into extra time and I started to think about booking that Bangor bus shelter for overnight accommodation.
Scoring machine Phil Lloyd had been on the bench until his second half introduction when he immediately seemed to give Holywell the confidence they could win and in the 4th minute of extra time he controversially gave The Holywell the lead.  Storming through the middle he reached the edge of the box before firing what looked like an unstoppable shot only for it to crash down off the bar and the assistant referee after a moments consideration signal that the ball had crossed the line.  As ever in these situation Llanrug felt extremely badly done too as they clearly felt the ball had not crossed fully over the line.  After a moments while calm was restored Lloyd had secured the lead for Holywell but this Llanrug team did once again not know when to lie down.  Feeling aggrieved they stormed forward and substitute Gethin Phillips fired home from 8 yards though a crowded box to level the scores.
As we entered the second half of extra time we were now witnessing a cracker of a game which was full of credit to both sides.  As we entered the 110th minute Holywells season was almost complete when they took the lead once again Steve Thomas crossed and Luke Tyson steered the ball home in at the far post to send the massed Holywell crowd behind the goal into delirium and Cecil the crocodile and his family air bound!

The remaining 10 minutes were tense with Llanrug trying to force another equaliser on at the final whistle from referee Terry Atkinson, who had performed admirably, they looked drained and devastated, Llanrug should not be. Of course somebody has to win but they had performed fantastically well and contributed so much to a wonderful occasion.
At the final whistle John Hasledin and his staff celebrated on the bench as the players congratulated one another and also it was good too see commiserated with the Llanrug players.
Time then for the Mawddach Cup to be presented to Holywell captain Sam Jones and for The Wellmen and their large following to enjoy another superb celebration and they tell me it will continue back home in Flintshire tonight! 

CECIL AND FAMILY GO WILD

A credit to both sides and the third team headed by referee Terry Robinson and also to Bangor for sectioning off a front portion of the stand to enable a well organised presentation.


MANAGER AND CAPTAIN ENJOY THE MOMENT

The blog was delighted to meet up with many friends from supporters to players of Holywell this afternoon I have said before its been such a welcoming club and I for one cant wait to cover some of their games next season.  I know the supporters feel the same but for now they must enjoy the superb season of massive highs that have been fully celebrated by all concerned before next season challenges start.

NO BLOGS COMPLETE WITHOUT MR GLYNN OWEN MIND YOUR FINGERS

A similar return via the rails to Llandudno Junction for the first change before another one at Manchester, nicely split with a visit to the big M's for some food and then a very interesting journey back over the peaks with a fellow traveller who the blog got into conversation with discussing all and everything!
Much like Newtown last week loved Bangor too and fully enjoyed attending some of Holywell Towns wonderful season, well done all!

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE BANGOR ARE BY THE STANDARD 175's