CPD Y Rhyl fell to a 1-0 home defeat to Holyhead Hotspur yesterday (March 16) in a result which dents their Ardal North West League title hopes.

The Lilywhites remain top of the table, 11 points ahead of second-placed Flint Mountain, but who have played five games fewer.

In the first half, the only real chance fell to Holyhead’s Jack Walsh on 19 minutes, as his effort from 35 yards had to be tipped over by a full-stretched Rhyl goalkeeper, Ryan Woods.

READ MORE:

Gritty Rhyl grind out crucial win at Bethesda Athletic

Rhyl started the second half started better, but their forward push left space for Holyhead’s Kane Roberts to break on goal on 47 minutes.

From the edge of the box, he tried to curl the ball in with the outside of his foot, only to see his effort bounce off the crossbar.

On the hour mark, Rhyl manager Gareth Thomas made his first change, replacing James Hay with Jonny Taylor in a bid to strengthen the attack.

This appeared to have the desired effect, as the experienced Taylor got straight into the action.

But the deadlock was finally broken on 74 minutes when a move out of midfield was intercepted by Holyhead, and Roberts was given the ball down the right.

As he entered the box, he squared the ball to Cory Williams, who was running into from the left.

Williams fired the ball across Woods, who was only able to watch as it hit the back of the net.

From then on, Rhyl threw the kitchen sink at Holyhead, but the visitors stood their ground.

Callum Parry thought he had won a penalty on 78 minutes, when he was brought down by the Holyhead goalkeeper Guto Hughes as he was through on goal.

But the assistant referee’s flag was raised, and he was adjudged to be offside in the build-up.

Substitute Meirion Pughe had the best opportunity to level the scores when the ball fell to him after a James Caines corner, but his effort went the wrong side of the post from close range.

Following the match, Rhyl manager Thomas admitted: “We didn’t get going.

“We didn’t win the first or second balls, we kept putting the ball straight over the centre half’s head; they won everything, and we were just not good enough today”.

Rhyl and Flint Mountain will meet on Wednesday (March 20) at Essity Stadium, in what will be a huge game for both teams as they look to gain promotion to the Cymru North Division.