CPD Y Rhyl continued to set the pace at the top of the Ardal North West league with a 3-0 home win against Saltney Town on Saturday (February 11)

Rhyl’s supporters were in full voice pre-match as they welcomed back a true fan favourite in Ryan Hassett, now with Saltney.

Any nerves were calmed on 24 minutes, as captain Reece Fairhurst opened the scoring for Rhyl.

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Macauley Taylor had out-foxed Hassett on the right, and was able to pick out his captain; Fairhurst, on the left of the box, volleyed across goal and past helpless goalkeeper Alex Swindell.

Jack Higgins doubled Rhyl’s lead just before half time, continuing his fine scoring form.

Another Taylor move down the right resulted in Higgins receiving the ball in the middle of the penalty box, where he was brought down, and leading referee Ethan Holmes to point to the spot.

Higgins stepped up confidently and fired the ball high into the top of the net to put Rhyl 2-0 up.

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With 16 minutes left to play, the Belle Vue faithful were able to witness a truly mesmerising individual goal; Taylor had got the better of his former team-mate all game, and this time he made it count.

Seeing his opportunity, he rolled the ball past Hassett and cut inside the box; like Diego Maradona in 1986 he jumped one tackle, then another.

Before he was fouled, he managed to get the ball from under his feet and slot it in to the net under goalkeeper Swindell.

Following the goal, Hassett was replaced, and as he walked towards the dugout, choruses of: “He’s one of our own” were sung from the Rhyl faithful.

Saltney’s discipline then began to suffer, and this came to a head on 78 minutes, when Sam Reynolds, who had been a thorn in Rhyl’s side all game, fouled Casey Faulkner late for a second time.

This time, referee Holmes didn’t see it, but his assistant did, before Holmes was called over, and a second yellow card was shown to Reynolds.

The win maintains the Lilywhites remain top of the league, but with no game next week, this could change.

Rhyl’s next outing for the lads will be at home to Llangefni Town on February 25 at 2pm.