Report on Dolgellau v Bow Street

SPAR MID WLAES LEAGUE DIVISION ONE - DOLGELLAU 1 BOW STREET 2
With both teams in transition this was probably an ideal fixture, giving either an opportunity for a confidence building start. It would be difficult for either side to claim they deserved three points as neither did enough to warrant this, not that Bow Street will care!
There were too many unforced errors throughout, however both teams did at all times attempt to play football as opposed to lofting the ball forward at every given opportunity.
It took quarter of an hour before anything threatening occurred, when a through ball to Gwion ap Dafydd committed Dolgellau keeper Greg Smithies, who forced him wide and his tame effort was intercepted by defender Jon Sutton with ease.
Within minutes, good interplay between Joe Evans and Lee Riches resulted in Sion Williams beating his marker and from a tight angle blasted across, the ball deflecting off the keeper and Iwan Kojs side footing the rebound inches over from close-in.
On the half hour mark Dolgellau’s Tristan Evans side footed down the wing, Sion Williams controlled, turned inside and saw the run of midfielder Sion Lloyd through the middle, playing a defence-splitting pass in to the path of Lloyd; however his touch was heavy allowing sweeper Owain James to recover the situation for his team.
Evans then almost conspired to allow his opponents the lead, passing straight to Mathew Pemberthy who created an opportunity for Neil Evans, however he shot wide.
Both sides retired for half time, both believing they could win.
After five minutes of the re-start, Dolgellau’s Tom Evans in an attempt to avoid a lunge on the half way line, lost possession, Dolgellau froze in the expectation of a free-kick, however ap Dafydd was sent clear, his shot sliced wide as Smithies approached, but did not have the pace to roll for a goal-kick, Neil Evans pouncing on the loose ball and side-footing into the empty net to give his side a surprise lead.
Within minutes, Dolgellau were back in the game when Owain James, under no pressure attempted to pass the ball across his own area. This was intercepted by Sion Williams some ten yards out and he side-footed the ball into the net giving keeper Lee Morgan no chance.
Within no time Dolgellau’s Williams passed across the pitch thirty yards out allowing Tom Williams a shot on goal that was sliced wide.
With quarter of an hour remaining and Dolgellau pushing for the winner, they again lost possession, the result a corner to Bow Street. Ap Dafydd took the corner, keeper Smithies called and came, however Neil Evans beat him to the ball heading in to give his team the lead once again!
The final quarter of an hour saw Dolgellau push forward, however they didn’t have the energy to create any opportunities apart from a scramble following a Lee Riches free kick seeing both Sion Lloyd (blocked) and Joe Evans (save from Morgan) coming close, then in the dying minutes from another break, keeper Smithies saved at the feet of ap Dafydd and within minutes it was full time, Bow Street stealing the points in a game that had a draw written all over it!!