Loads of effort from Glantraeth but very little to show for it as Buckley eventually ran out comfortable winners.
The opening twenty minutes were evenly contested with Gareth Owen the first to threaten for the home side on 4 minutes as his header from a Chris Evans corner kick passed wide and a minute later Mark Roberts let fly from the edge of the area without troubling home keeper Marc Newbould.
Buckley custodian Louis Makkin had to go down smartly to a free kick driven in from Chris Evans and Emyr Rowland’s follow up was blocked as Glan looked for an early breakthrough.
Only a brilliant saving tackle from Darren Jones prevented Roberts giving the visitors the lead on 12 minutes and six minutes later Glan’s Emyr Rowlands rose high to meet a corner but although his header was on target Makkin was able to make a simple save.
There had been hardly anything to choose between the sides up until the 21st minute when the Flintshire side took the lead in somewhat fortunate fashion as a well delivered corner kick from Joe Garner was met by Newbould but his punch failed to get the ball clear, the ball appearing to strike Gareth Owen and fall nicely into the path of Mark Roberts who forced the ball home from only a couple of yards out.
Glantraeth responded positively with an inviting cross from Paul Rowlands coming to nothing as Makkin plucked the ball out of the air unchallenged. On 33 minutes Gerallt Jones almost stole in at the far post after Buckley failed to deal with a left wing corner.
It was two to the visitors 8 minutes before the interval as Joe Garner sent in a low drive that Newbould couldn’t hold on to on the wet surface and the ball broke free for Chris Knowles to score.
Garner was agin the provider on 43 minutes as his cross found Roberts only five yards out but his volley from a great position went well wide.
Tomos Wyn Jones went close to pulling a goal back right on the half time whistle but Makkin just managed to get a hand to the ball and push it into the side netting.
The second period saw Buckley exert even more pressure with Garner’s free kick dipping just over then Roberts missing with another volley. On the hour mark Newbould pulled off a good save to deny Roberts as Buckley looked for a third.
Gareth Owen almost made contact with a dangerous free kick delivered by Chris Evans and Emyr Rowlands tried his luck from distance as Glan tried to narrow the gap. It was Emyr Rowlands who was again the main threat to the visitors on 65 minutes as his powerful effort was pushed wide by the keeper following good link up play between Paul Rowlands and Tomos Wyn Jones.
Newbould again came to the rescue of the home side with 7 minutes left going down well at the feet of Sam Grimster with Kevin Roberts on hand to clear the danger but the respite was brief as two minutes later John Dowridge added his name to the scoresheet forcing the ball home in a goalmouth scramble. As the goal was scored Buckley’s Miles Todd inexplicably took a swing at Emyr Rowlands and was sent off.
Glantraeth: Marc Newbould, David Hughes, Darren Jones, Andy Tower, Gareth Owen, Emyr Rowlands, Paul Rowlands (Corey Sinnott 77), Tomos Wyn Roberts, Gerallt Jones (David Alan Jones 77), Kevin Roberts, Chris Evans. Subs not used: Adam Jones, Bryn Jones