The Saints picked up another 3 points on their travels making it 4 wins out of 4 all away from home.
The following report was taken from the Dolgellau website.
Dolgellau, with six key players missing, opened up brightly and competed for all the first period, however once they went 1-3 down just after half time their resolve seemed broken, held together by effort and work rate, lacking any cutting edge.
Dolgellau created an opportunity within two minutes when, following good interplay between Richard Littleton and Ben Richards the former set up Ryan Thomas, however from close in the midfielder attempted to control rather than hit the ball first time thereby losing possession.
On five, Hay’s Kevin Jones beat the offside trap and ran clear down the right however the defence recovered ground forcing a corner.
On eight minutes, Littleton sent Richards clear however as he strode goal wards, a moment of hesitation resulted in a tackle.
Two minutes later, a Callum Thomas through ball saw Ben Richards beat the offside trap, striding down the right wing with Gareth Lloyd supporting inside. Richards drew keeper Price and squared across goal for Lloyd to side foot into the empty net. Dolgellau were creating problems at this stage and playing some decent soccer.
On quarter of an hour Hay keeper Price punted the ball straight down the middle and a moment of hesitation let in Kevin Jones, however he blasted over from the angle.
This should have been a warning, however a minute later another long ball caught Sutton unawares, the ball bouncing between Josh Wisniewski and keeper Ashley Hills, the striker winning the race and heading over the keeper into the net.
Three minutes later, Wisniewski again found himself unmarked and inside the box, forcing a save from Hills.
On 23 minutes an in-swinging corner from Dolgellau’s Lee Riches from the left was headed inches over at the near post by Ryan Thomas.
A period of stalemate ensued, with neither side able to string a series of passes together or create an opportunity, it was burger or tea time for the spectators!
They had fifteen minutes break, and the game burst into partial-life again, Richards sent clear down the left by Littleton and his cross was just too high for Thomas at the far post.
Two minutes later, Sutton lost possession on the half way line; however he did well to recover the situation, tackling Jones some five yards short of the box.
As half time was approaching a long, hopeful ball down the centre from Hay’s keeper was missed, the resulting bounce causing chaos, falling to Wisniewski on the edge of the box. His attempted shot was scuffed, however the ball ended up behind the home defence, the striker sprinting forward to beat Hills with ease from the penalty spot. This was just what Hay needed, a lead at half time to increase their confidence and, conversely, just what a low-in-confidence home side didn’t want!
Dolgellau’s Richards was substituted at half time for tactical reasons having already gained a yellow card and the forward threat was not the same thereafter. A good start to the second half was what the home side needed and it looked optimistic. A shot straight from the kick-off from Riches bounced high short of keeper Price; however he comfortably tipped over for a corner. This was wasted and, almost immediately a needless free-kick was given away wide on the Hay right by Callum Thomas. The ball was swung in left-footed by Jones and David Jones went for the challenge only to see the ball deflect off his head into the net.
The home side appeared deflated, confidence drained.
Another quarter of an hour of mediocrity followed, Hay happy at 3-1, Dolgellau not believing that two goals was achievable – and they may have been correct.
Then, on 58 minutes Gareth Lloyd sprinted on to a long ball, harassing Price, his clearance hitting the striker, who, once he pirouetted and realised he had the ball, squared across the goal, however only Hay’s Preece was anywhere near.
On the hour, another long ball out of the home defence fell between Lloyd and the onrushing keeper, some thirty yards out, the striker reaching the ball first; however his left foot lob was twenty yards wide of the far post.
Two minutes later Hay’s Jones broke clear only to lose control, Hills clearing the danger.
Dolgellau had lost the influential Sutton at this stage, but the back four remained resolute.
On 70 minutes Hay’s Dan Jones crossed to the feet of Kevin Jones at the far post, the striker blasting inches wide.
Five minutes later a snap shot from Jones almost caught Hills out at the near post, however the keeper saved.
Time was running out and Dolgellau had their final breath, forcing a corner, floated in by Ryan Thomas and headed goal wards by Lloyd, the ball cleared off the line. This was however, too little too late as Hay returned home having struggled to come to terms with their opponents in the first period, but were threatened little in the second.
Team- Stephen Price, Dan Jones, Wes Evans, Phil Davies(c), Chris Preece, Sam Powell(Jake Atkinson), Stu Davies, Tom Weaver, Kev Jones, Gareth Jenkins, Josh Wisniewski.