Football: High-flying Llangefni Town FC don't expect an easy ride

Oct 21 2009

BERRIEW 1 LLANGEFNI TOWN 4

CYMRU ALLIANCE

ALTHOUGH his team sits proudly on top of the Cymru Alliance, Llangefni’s assistant manager Ian Hughes is only too aware how hard it will be to stay there.

Cefni’s 4-1 success at Berriew keeps them a point clear at the summit, but a whole host of clubs are ready to pounce if the Anglesey side falter.

"Flint, Llandudno, Denbigh and clubs below them are all fighting to finish in the top six," said Hughes.

"We’re very happy to be top and we’re determined to stay there as long as we can, but we know a few teams are capable of challenging us."

Llangefni should remain at the pinnacle this weekend with winless bottom side Gresford Athletic the visitors to Talwrn Road.

Marcus Orlik is struggling to be fit for the islanders, but otherwise the majority of the squad should be available.

Injuries and absentees decimating the Cefni squad at newcomers Berriew, and the visitors were mentally still on the bus when on five minutes Joe Coulson headed home from a free-kick.

Town levelled on 19 minutes when Chris Williams’ trademark left foot cross was headed in by an unmarked Warren Gibbs.

Darren Thomas was strangely ruled offside when scoring after latching on to a back-header from a Berriew defender, but soon after Grahame Austin benefited from a linesman’s generosity to net from close range.

Cefni piled on the pressure and another deep run from Williams to the byeline brought a perfect cross for Steve Kehoe to head home to make it 3-1.

In the second period Berriew came out and made a game of it, forcing corners which were dangerous and playing wide right to get attacks going, and they could have got a second with a bit more composure. Rich Higham came on for the tiring Kev Roberts to anchor the defensive role in midfield which steadied the ship.

Danny Glyn Roberts had led the line well all game, with his physical presence unsettling the hosts and his persistence tying them up. Although he had a couple of half chances, it was his set up to Kev Lloyd that saw him hit the fourth from 25 yards which enabled the leaders to wind things down at 4-1.