Harbourmen Miss Out On Treble - Holyhead Hotspur vs. Ruthin Town

View of rural, sunny Anglesey football

If you're anything like me you're attracted to grounds at the end of the line (i.e. Clacton, Harwich and Parkstone, Marlow, etc) and the second game of my Welsh weekend provided a chance to add to this list at Holyhead Hotspur. The last time I'd been on Anglesey was on a family holiday many years ago and I have many good memories of the place - aside from the time the whole island was engulfed by jellyfish. It had not been a good season for Holyhead with their relegation from The Cymru Alliance already confirmed although they had won three of the last four before this afternoon and also had the league cup final to look forward to. Today's visitors were Ruthin Town were comfortably in mid table but had lost on their two previous visits to The New Oval in The League and Welsh cups. The two sides only meet the previous in the league with Holyhead winning 4-2.

Kick off in front of the stands and clubhouse

It doen't take long for Ruthin to take the lead in this fixture with them being played in right down the middle and they take full advantage going one up. Holyhead don't let their heads drop and they are soon level. The Holyhead attacker gets the byline before squaring the ball to his team who gets the ball over the line for the equaliser. Ruthin sky a chance just before they are awarded a penalty for a push and the spot is duly dispatched to restore the visitor's lead. Before half time Ruthin have a good chance to extend their advantage but the Holyhead keeper makes a good save after the forward muscles his way through.

The Holyhead goalie claims a second half cross

Holyhead nearly create a great chance at the start of the second period and it takes a last minute touch from a Ruthin defender to take a pull back away from the attacker. It is Ruthin's turn to come close as a bouncing header from a free kick hits the foot of the post. The rest of the game then has a bit of an end of season feeling with the main talking point being how the Ruthin keeper doesn't see red for shoving a Holyhead player but The Harbourmen can now focus on The League Cup final next weekend.

Holyhead look for a second with a stand at what I think was the old ground in the background

There are occasional trains direct from London to Holyhead which take around four hours but as with Bangor, it is more likely that you will have to change at Chester. Holyhead is a pleasant town and the Maritime Museum was sadly closed. There wasn't too much in the way of ale on offer in the town but The Albert Vaults  and The Skerries are good for the sports channels. I had a good dinner at The Stanley Arms and if you do elect to stay over then The Haven is a friendly B and B in a great location. The New Oval is a twenty five minute walk from the town and you are guaranteed a friendly welcome. The clubhouse had the usual selection of drinks and as it the was the last home match of the season they had run out of hot food but the menu looked good. A great end to the weekend venture and I will be back in North Wales in the near future.

Another view of the areas of cover at The New Oval