CPD Y Rhyl 1879 maintained their lead at the top of the Ardal North West League with a gritty, hard-fought 1-0 win at Llay Welfare on Saturday (March 4).

Coming into a double-header with the Miners, the Lilywhites were delt a blow, as both in-form scorers Jack Higgins and Macauley Taylor were unavailable.

The pair had been responsible for nine goals and three assists between them in Rhyl’s previous four games.

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With 10 minutes to go, 1879 were awarded a free kick 40 yards out from the right corner of the box.

James Stead would take it and after the free-kick specialist whipped the ball in, it was Chris Bennett who got to it first, who found Kieran Ellis free to his left.

Ellis took the ball down first-time, and smashed it passed Llay goalkeeper Kyle Flower to send the fans into a state of euphoria behind the goal, with Rhyl players piling on top of the scorer.

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The home side would make two changes towards the end, but the experience of captain Reece Fairhurst, James Jones and Miles Todd at the back, with Tom Kemp just in front, was enough to snuff out the Llay advances.

The result extends Rhyl’s undefeated run to nine games, having won eight and drawn one in that time.

It keeps them top of the league, with a five-point gap between themselves and Flint Mountain in second.

Next up for Rhyl will be the reverse fixture of this clash, as Llay visit Belle Vue on Saturday (March 11) for a 2.30pm kick-off.