If last seasons games with these two clubs were anything to go by it would be stating the obvious that Glantraeth would not be in for an easy ride. In the game that was played at Glantraeth's Bodorgan base at the beginning of season 2005/2006 the two sides battled out a goalless draw, and then at the beginning of the year in Ruthin the result was a loss for Glantraeth by three goals to two. This was the kick up the backside that they needed at the time as they kicked on from their to put a long unbeaten sequence together and eventually win the Cymru Alliance Championship.
Both sides today were missing key players for a number of reasons, injury, suspension and unavailability, it was a full fifteen minutes before the first real action of the game as Mark Thomas headed over the bar following a Emyr Rowlands free kick on the right. The merry whistle blower in the middle of the park did not help, blowing up on a number of occasions for what seemed like every single tackle by both sides. Glantraeth did have the ball in the net on 21 minutes but the goal was ruled out for offside. Mathew Davies for Ruthin then blazed over when well placed, before Jeremy Porter was called upon to to push round the post a shot from the lively Anthony Hughes one of Paul Whelan's new signings in the close season. The player-manager himself in a rare appearance hit a shot wide from a Mark Owens corner. Richard Owen then turned well but his shot was parried away for a corner by Porter. Further chances just before the half-time break fell to Martin Bohana who blazed wide and Richard Owen who shot from distance. HT 0-0.
After the break Emyr Rowlands hit a powerful shot from some distance but it sailed harmlessly over the crossbar. Within a minute Glantraeth took the lead as Emyr Rowlands put a ball over the back for Mark Owens who turned and chipped the ball over the advancing keeper to make it 1-0. Two minutes later Ruthin were back in it as the official awarded a penalty for a push in the area and up stepped Mathew Davies to put the ball beyond the reach of Steve Thomas the Glantraeth custodian. On 55 minutes a Nigel Barry cross picked out Mark Thomas coming in at the far post and he headed past Porter to put the home side back in front. On 60 minutes Richard Owen who worked tirelessly all day beat the last defender took the ball to the byline and slid a square ball across to Anthony Hughes who made no mistake from close range, 3-1.
Ruthin then threw everything they had at Glantraeth in the closing half-hour. Kevin Roberts who had just come on as sub almost increased the lead but his guided shot went agonisingly wide of the post with Porter stranded. A minute later a cross that was misjudged by home keeper Thomas found Andy Roberts who headed across the face of goal for an easy walk in goal for Mathew Davies. 3-2 and twenty five minutes to go meant some stern defending by the new look defence as Bohana, Gibbs, Whelan, Emyr Rowlands and Mark Thomas all played their part in some some last ditch tackling in vital areas. Will Roberts saw a chance tipped over the bar by Thomas then in a final flurry Glantraeth maybe sould have done better as Richard Owen cursed his luck when two late chances were saved by the outstretched visitor's foot.
Glantraeth: Steve Thomas, Emyr Rowlands, Paul Whelan, Warren Gibbs, Martin Bohana, Nigel Barry, Anthony Hughes, Mark Thomas, Richard Owen, Mark Owens (Kevin Roberts 62), Paul Rowlands (Osian Pritchard 73).