ALL SQUARE AS NEWLY PROMOTED HOLYWELL SHARE THE POINTS WITH CAERNARFON

HOLYWELL TOWN 0 V CAERNARFON TOWN 0
HUWS GRAY [CYMRU] ALLIANCE AT HALKYN RD
15 AUGUST 2015 2.30PM

REFEREE ANDY HARMS WITH HIS ASSISTANTS AND CAPTAINS TOM MCELMEEL [HOLYWELL] & GRAHAME AUSTIN

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Holywell Town secured a point with a barnstorming second half that produced everything bar a goal against many peoples championship favourites Caernarfon Town who more than matched expectations with an impressive first half showing.  This was certainly not one of those dour 0-0 games and looking back on the highlights its quite hard to see how it did remain goal less with excellent saves from both keepers, woodwork struck, efforts cleared off the line, two penalty appeals and a sending off thrown into the mix.

A BUSY NEW TURNSTILE BLOCK MANNED BY MR GLYN OWEN

More on the game to follow and as readers will know last season the blog took in quite a few of The Wellmen's games and we were always greeted well by the friendly bunch associated with the Flintshire side.  So having gained their much desired promotion to the Cymru Alliance their opening game could not have been more enticing against many peoples tips for the top spot Caernarfon Town who are always a force and indeed in their pre season build up beat WPL champions TNS.  Holywell Town had a selection of new signings including Steve Lewis who joined the club on Friday having previously been with Llandudno and todays visitors.

WINDMILL STILL IN THE SIGHTLINES AT HALKYN RD

Travel today was from base leaving early enough to visit St Winefride's Well [oh no I didn't] in the town something I failed to do on the last occasion and something I would once again fail to do today.  First change was at Stockport and after a quiet start to Sheffield the train got very busy over the Peaks with a cancelled earlier train loading this one to the gills.  The change at Stockport is a tight 5 minutes but it was achieved and a much quieter journey saw us arrive in Chester just short of 1045.  The slow route via Altrincham was selected to avoid the Llandudno holiday trains which I guessed would be busy and to this end I decided to take and Arriva bus from Chester to Holywell.  By the time we got to Queensferry I began to regret it with an accident on the A55 the surrounding roads were clogged up and I was starting to fear making the long journey and not seeing the game at all.  Lots of stopping and little starting did see us arrive 2 hours later, double the normal journey time in Holywell bus station at just after 1pm.

HOLYWELL TOWN LOOKING TOWARDS THE BUSINESS SIDE OF THE GROUND

The decision was taken not too rush around the well but go straight to ground which is a short comfortable amble along Halkyn Rd.  The ground is described in last seasons blog in February for the Welsh Cup game versus Aberystwyth so I wont go through a descriptor again except to list a few notable changes.

CAERNARFON KEEPER PAUL PRITCHARD AND
 'THE SOCKS'

Down the slope past the community hospital and into the ground by the car entrance used to lead you to access the ground in full but now the car park is immediately accessible but the ground is fenced off with green meshed fencing which draws you towards the club house and by it a narrow entrance block featuring a turnstile block which is also newly built.  Today the turnstile is manned by non other than Mr Glyn Owen, just the man to have on the gate, who always offers a friendly welcome to visitors.  Once inside with thick programme purchased well done again here to secretary Steve Roberts for this.  Indeed Steve, along with his two sons, was the first person who I met inside the club house which was now adorned with two pop up advertising displays in recognition of Holywell's successful 2014/15 season.  As we set off for a walk around the ground it was nice to receive an acknowledgment from Holywell manager John Haseldin and indeed we had a little chat a few minutes later.  The rest of the ground seemed to remain very much as previously described with windmill and estuary view still just about in the sightlines.

EARLY ARRIVALS FROM THE CAERNARFTON TOWN CONTINGENT

In the last half an hour the crowd started to come in, todays attendance was 324, and there was a fair following from Caernarfon.  The snack bar was sampled with sausage roll and coke oh go on then and a kit kat!  The two young ladies in the snack bar are also worth a mention for their friendly greeting.

FOUL! REFEREE HARMS AS SEEN IT TOO

Before the start of the game referee Andy Harms kindly allowed me to pop onto the pitch to take a captains and officials line up for this first game back in the Cymru Alliance for Holywell Town.
The game started at a fair old pace and Holywell looked good in the opening minutes but on 8 minutes they were thankful to the linesman's offside flag when Nathan Craig hit the back of the net.  Caernarfon then had two players booked in a minute Gareth Edwards and Craig.  Caernarfon were starting to get a grip n the game and Mike Platt pulled off two excellent saves in the Holywell goal from Toby Jones on 12 minutes and the a couple of minutes later Jamie Breese.

On the half hour mark the visitor had penalty appeals turned down by referee Harms before at the other end Steve Lewis forced visiting keeper Paul Pritchard into an excellent save with a lon range effort.  From the resulting corner Dan Dazdraukas forced Pritchard into a further save the ball looped goal wards only for Gareth Edwards to head away for another corner.  Lewis was in the action on this next corner with a downward header that sadly bounced back up and over the crossbar.
Caerarfon had looked a good outfit in the first half even though Holywell had their chances too, but the second half was to be a different showing with the visitors creating very little as The Wellmen took a firm grip on the game. 

ITS ALL IN THE HANDS ON THE HOLYWELL BENCH

The one chance for the visitors on 52 minutes saw Platt once again in excellent form when he saved at full length from Jones.
With 18 minutes to go good body strength and delivery from new signing Lewis set up Tom McElmeel who drove a thunderbolt against the upright.  Five minutes late it was Lewis who stormed through and his effort was on target but Pritchard pulled off a sharp save.

RED CARD FOR CAERNARFON'S GARETH EDWARDS

With 7 minutes of normal time remaining Holywell seemed to be denied a penalty for a trip just inside the box but referee Harms gave the kick a fraction outside much to the fury of the home bench and supporters.  He did the produce a second yellow for Edwards and the inevitable red card left the visitors down to ten men for the remaining minutes.  The free kick was blocked by the wall but still Holywell were pushing for the winner and on the stroke of full time keeper Pricthard rushed out to try to stop a Wellman break but he failed to stop them and the ball fell away to Paul Williams who fired goal bound only for Kevin Roberts to somehow stretch to clear off the line. 

Very shortly after the referee signalled time on what had been a breath taking game fully enjoyed by both sets of fans.  Caernarfon will clearly be there or there abouts and Holywell they acquitted themselves so well in their first game back at this level and if they keep up this level of performance they will also feature in the section of the table.
Having said my farewells to the ground the arrival back at Holywell bus station allowed a few minutes to visit the Spar for provisions before hopping back on the Chester bus which I decided to depart at Flint and catch the train back to Chester which saved me about an hour with a return back to base station just after 8.30pm thanks to some well running connections.
An enjoyable return to Holywell and Wales even though the morning/afternoon delayed travel was frustrating.  As ever this trip is well recommended to any hoppers out their who want a visit to a friendly club with a good programme and a nice set up.

THE WEARY 1115 FROM CHESTER THAT DELIVERED ME TO HOLYWELL
IS THAT LATE DUE TO TRAFFIC JAMS ITS RETURNING OUT OF SERVICE.