We were hoping to get our first win against an excellent side and our current form helped in thinking we might get a result today.

Borras started the better with their good passing football played at pace and it took us 10 minutes to get into the game. The lads took control of the rest of the first half and after Euan Decourt finding the crossbar it was eventually Meuryn Hughes who put us ahead following a long ball from Sam Gostage and a clean finish. Both team had a few more chances but we went 1-0 up at half time and deservedly so.

The weather got worse in the second half and the cold was joined by rain and wind. We started the second half as we finished the first and we were unlucky not to go two up following a very good strike from man of the match Mark Jones which was travelling towards the top left corner of the Borras goal only to be stopped by some excellent goalkeeping.

We could feel that a second goal would seal it in our favour but the game was strechted and spaces became apparent in our midfield. Borras took advantage and equalised from close range. The knock from the equaliser was apparent in our players faces and those of the Llangollen parents. The game stretched even more as we looked to regain advantage but Borras had the wind in their sail and used the extra energy to score a second and then a third in the closing stages of the game.

We drew against Borras in our first fixture against them and did so against the run of play; at the time we apologise for a good but lucky result and the Borras Manager told us that day ‘you need to take your chances to win a game’… I guess today they did and we didn’t.

On a positive note all players did very well in difficult conditions and we can see a very strong team emerging hoping to get their first league win in the new year.

Until then it is time to enjoy the end of year festivities! A merry Christmas and happy New Year to all from Llangollen U14s.

The first half was well contested and although we had most of the chances, Garden Village could have scored too.

The lads knew they had to be serious with this game and not take the younger team lightly; Garden Village are a very good side and currently near the top of their league and the quality of the football they played was a credit to their age group.

For once we carried extra height and extra pace and that made the difference against our opponent of the day.

Taylor Thomas opened the scoring mid way through the first half thanks to a fantastic pass from Tristan Lloyd which opened the GV defence. We went 2-0 up at half time thanks to a goal from Man of the Match Alix Hooson using his pace to take advantage.

Tristan Lloyd made the game safe with barely 2 minutes gone in the second half; a good move involving Ashley Pughe on the right wing ended up with the ball spare on the edge of the area and Tristan drilled a low shot in the bottom left corner.

We started bringing on our substitutes and the strength of our bench shone as Jac Bray scored a brace and had a valid third disallowed while Niall Roberts scored his first of the season.

As ever our captain Sam Gostage kept the team going and showed the way scoring twice himself.

A special note to Garden Village who never gave up and scored a well deserved, and arguably the best, goal of the game with the terrific shot from the right wing which found the top left corner of our goal.

Two good solid games in a row for us and signs that the lads start believing in their football more and more. Next Saturday we close the year with our final league game at home against one of the favourites for the title Borras.

Did they misfire? Did they underestimated us? I don’t think the answer is in either; today the better team was Llangollen.

We started the game in a very typical yet frustrating fashion: 1-0 down after barely 1 minute and unlucky not to get an offside decision… 2-0 down after 5 minutes giving the host an easy tap-in. We were looking at a heavy defeat.

The lads were deflated, disappointed and their heads went down for the best part of the following 10 minutes and then they started playing, and how well they played!

They took control of the game in midfield and eventually got a corner which although defended by GV ended up in Euan Decourt’s feet who unleashed a fantastic shot which ended up in the corner of the goal: 2-1.

10 minutes later and following another spell of pressure, a good move released Meuryn Hughes whose sweet finish went pass the GV keeper and it was 2-2 at half time.

We started the second half on the back foot and a couple of last ditch tackles kept us on parity with our host. A great shot from Taylor Thomas could only be pushed away by the keeper back in Morgan Jones’ feet to give us the lead for the first time in the game.

The boys kept pushing for a fourth however following a break from GV, their striker was beautifully tackled by Jack Morris in the area but the referee awarded a penalty kick… ‘it was never a penalty said one of the GV supporters’… Alix Hooson saved the first kick but the referee decided it should be retaken (?) and the second attempt went in.

GV took advantage in the following minutes after this to go 4-3 up following a good corner and a simple tap-in.

We brought on all our subs and swapped Alix Hooson and Meuryn Hughes. The changes proved fruitful as Alix equalised for us with 10 minutes to go and Meuryn made a few good saves to keep us with a chance of winning for the first time this year.

The game ended up 4-4 which we should be delighted with but it could and should have been even better…

All 14 Llangollen players involved today played fantastically well and were a credit to our football club.

Next week another game at Garden Village in the league cup but against their U13s for a place in the quarter final.

Ruthin made all their chances count and use a very strong wind to their advantage.

Llangollen battled to try to get back into the game after going down 1-0 at half-time.

Jack morris was our man of the match with a strong display at the back and a promising try up front.

Next game against Garden Village, another hard game but with our style of play I’m sure it ‘ll work some day!

Llangollen started this game knowing they were going to get tested by a strong Bala team who are just behind them in the league and have themselves had some excellent results recently, however Llangollen wanted to protect their unbeaten run in the league.

Bala won the toss and decided to ko pushing llan and testing the defence Rhys Williams and Nathan Williams were having to work really hard protecting their lines some excellent battles in midfield with steffan Evans and jack orritt working tirelessly,steffan fed Owen dean through on 10mins and an excellent take 1-0 up against the run of play.steffan Evans after all his hard work and excellent passing scored his first of the season on 19mins 2-0.Bala pushed hard and continued to pressure the defence with a harsh penalty decision against Rhys Williams Ben Jones couldn’t get to the ball 2-1.Half time at this point the game could have gone either way.

Llangollen had the ko and put a couple of good passes together and on 32mins Brad Preston made it 3-1 an excellent bit of work from Lewis Hitchen who was starting to find holes in Balas defence.Llangollen’s midfield started using the wingers a bit more and creating space and on 41 mins Lewis Hitchen scored his first 4-1.Bala continued to push and had a couple chances this game was turning into a very tough physical challenge on 51mins Lewis Hitchen struck again 5-1.Llangollen again putting some neat passing together and working as a team and capping an excellent 2nd half Lewis Hitchen scored his hatrick on 54mins.Bala refused to lie down and on 59mins scored an cracking goal result 6-2

Llangollen once again played a decent game a little bit scrappy at times but a good battling performance where everyone had to work hard.

next up ruthin in the cup another test for this young team.

Llangollen started this game really well plenty of passing and talking to eachother with plenty of possession and testing Johnstown defence,after some excellent possession and some excellent work from the full backs Barra liddy scored on 13mins,Llangollen once again won possession early and from a corner centre back Nathan Williams netted on 19mins,Johnstown began to test Owen Dean in goal but Owen and his defence were having none of it pushing Johnstown back with some excellent football with some excellent moves being played down the wings with Brad Preston netting a loose ball for his first on 27mins.Johnstown were caught napping a bit and again llan pressed with Brad getting his 2nd just on half time excellent half by Llangollen.

Llangollen kicked off the 2nd half and began pressing straight away Johnstown battled back and got a goal on 35mins 4-1 Llangollen kicked off and worked hard again with some excellent moves starting at the back right through to the forwards resulting in a goal for Lewis Hitchen on 40mins 5-1.Llangollen won the ball straight from the ko and produced their best spell of the match with some excellent passing running rings round Johnstown allowing Dennis Bates to slot home on 47mins,Euan Evans came on for osian Williams and getting on the score sheet for his first of the season result 7-1.

This was by far the best performance from this young side showing some fantastic passing,movement and control everyone working hard an excellent team display with every player contributing to the match well done everyone.

next up were at home to Bala in the league.

We knew that they would play good football and could create an upset. Based on our own experience last year we learnt (the hard way) that U14s teams tend to win as the extra year gives a physical advantage in the final quarter of the game. We decided that we needed to hold the ball well and make sure that we wouldn’t panic.

We had a lucky break when Sam Gostage’s cross come shot flew in the back of the net after 10 minutes but it was all we deserved as we controlled the ball and the game well.

it was 3-0 at half time with goals from Tristan Lloyd and Morgan’s first competitive goal to add to Sam’s strike.

We changed things a bit in the second half with Meuryn and Alix swapping in goal and Tom taking charge of midfield duties. The second half was a close copy of the first with our fourth goal and Euan Decourt’s first this season coming after 15 minutes. A very clever and accurate 35 yards strike from Tristan made it 5-0 and Sam also got his second of the game to round things up.

A deserved victory and a potential upset avoided, well done lads!

To check all league cup results: http://www.leaguewebsite.co.uk/wrexhamdistrictyouthfootballleague/LeagueFixtures

the 2nd half started much the same borras winning 95% of the ball after 5mins into half they got the goal 1-0.Llangollen heads didn’t go down they continued to fight and had a couple of chances to level with a late penalty shout being declined borras closed out 1-0 winners.

to sum up Llangollen didn’t play a bad game the defence was excellent midfield strong just on this day borras were too strong beating llan to the ball and holding possession but llan showed true spirit and never gave up well done lads

next up away at Johnstown in the league.

With our goal keeper missing and one of our best players (Rhys) only able to play one half the strength of our squad was going to be tested.

Alix Hooson took goal keeping duties and as ever had an excellent performance worthy of the man of the match except for what happened in the 93rd minute…

Borras did boss most the game and were unlucky not to score more than 1 goal; hitting the post and facing some strong defending from our back 3.
They took a deserved lead at the start of the second half following a poor clearance on our part but our lads kept on going and eventually got their reward in the 93rd minute when the ball looped in the Borras area for Tristan Lloyd to score with an overhead kick!

The whistle went to mark the end of the game with Tristan still on the floor having hurt himself in the process but a team was born.

The lads will hopefully learn from this that they are good enough to compete at this level.

A big thank you to Borras who showed amazing signs of sportmanship following the end of the game as their worries were more with congratulating us and enquirying about Tristan’s back rather than expecting to keep playing for an extra minute which the match might have deserved.

Llangollen started the game with pace and caught chirk early with brad Preston getting a goal after 2mins of play some good early passing and after 7mins were 2-0 up barra liddy getting his first,chirk were struggling a bit with the pace of the wingers but fought hard and were pushing for a goal but some excellent movement form llan sent Lewis hitchen clear scoring on 18mins.chirk again tried to respond but the Llangollen midfield battled hard to put Dennis bates clear to score his first goal for the club on 22mins.

beginning of the 2nd half chirk were playing some excellent football pushing llan hard and their hard work paid off with a great strike to get one back,chirk were playing some great stuff and pushing llan very hard llans defence having to work really hard then on 48mins llan broke barra liddy with his 2nd of the match result 5-1

well done to all the players great sporting attitude next up borras park Albion 2nd round of cup.