Prestatyn Town 3 Llanrhaeadr 1

LLANRHAEADR ended second best in a hard-fought opening day defeat at defending champions Prestatyn Town.

It has been a long time since the last time Prestatyn were crowned champions of last season’s curtailed campaign but have once again been backed to challenge for honours with a much-changed squad.

The villagers travelled with a youthful squad aiming to complete an opening day upset and bounce back from their Nathaniel MG Cup defeat at home to Penrhyncoch the previous week.

Goalkeeper Lee Andrew denied Jamie Reed from the penalty spot during the early stages.

Prestatyn continued to push with Ian Kearney’s headed effort cleared off the line.

The deadlock was finally broken after 35 minutes with Ryan Kehoe on target after bursting through the visitors’ defence to round Andrew and slot into an empty net.

However Llanrhaeadr weathered the storm and remained in contention at the interval.

The Seasiders tightened their grip on the game after the break with Patrick Hamid doubling the lead after lashing home a corner from Mason Blackwell-Jones on the hour.

Ashley Ruane put the points beyond reach with 13 minutes remaining following a Ryan Campbell assist.

Far from capitulate the villagers enjoyed their best spell of the game and continued to attack.

Llanrhaeadr continued to toil in the heat and were rewarded with a consolation from youngster Zack Davies with five minutes remaining to raise morale.

Llanrhaeadr ended the match on top with goalkeeper Nik Bulmer forced into action and Hamid clearing off his line to give Llanrhaeadr manager Marc Griffiths plenty of cause for optimism going forward.

PRESTATYN: Bulmer, Wallis, Elsey-McHugh, Kearney, Johnson, Burrows, Mann, Kehoe, Bkackwell-Jones, Reed, Ruane. Subs: Roberts, Hamid, Webb, Campbell, Rowlands.

LLANRHAEADR: Andrew, Harris, Edmunds, Kelly, Shone, Wytton, Sklenar, Vaughan, Williams, Thomas, Lewis. Subs: Weir, Arkwright, Hindley, Burgess, Davies.