NEW Zealander Sam Heenan marked his Rhyl debut with a goal which put his new team on their way to a tremendous win at Vicarage Road. Heenan, 17, who was spotted by the Rhyl FC linked Cambrian Academy playing in Kiwi land and came over to Britain to sign for Shrewsbury before joining the Lilywhites, took just 11 minutes to make an impact for his new club. Nice work by Chris Roberts found Scott Millington on the wide left and his cross was headed in by Heenan to make it 1-0. Not only did this win move Rhyl Reserves five points clear at the Welsh Alliance summit, they also stretched their unbeaten run to six matches. Jon Stazicker’s side made a great start when man of the match Gareth Wilson found Gareth Hughes whose cross brought a peach of a volley from Millington which rattled the crossbar. Heenan’s opener followed before Wilson played a free-kick to the edge of the box where top scorer Mike Roose turned neatly and fired just wide. James Hay, Roose and Millington all just missed the target before on 39 minutes Wilson’s brilliant ball picked out Hughes who rounded keeper Danny Stanton to double the lead at the interval. Into the second half and Rhyl kept carving out the chances. Millington’s low cross from the left was met by Roose’s back-heel at the near post but Stanton went down well to save. Stanton denied Roose again in a one-on-one situation, then a superb pass from Wilson released Hay who took the ball into the box but drove over. Three minutes remained when a Rhyl attack broke down and Rhyd countered quickly, Stuart Rain finishing off a left wing cross but the visitors ran out deserved victors. “We played well in the first half and created a few good chances,” said winning manager Stazicker. “We never really got going the same in the second half through we held our own. I’m very happy with the performance and a good three points.” RHYL: Paul Pritchard, Sean Morgan, Tom Roberts, Adam France, Chris Roberts, James Hay, Gareth Wilson, Sam Heenan, Scott Millington, Gareth Hughes, Mike Roose. Subs: Craig Griffiths, Tom Patel, Keiron Evans, Jack Roberts, Joe Ahern. Last Tuesday Rhyl Reserves overcame a strong Llanrug United side 4-2 at Belle Vue. James Hay netted twice in the first half, on 21 and 41 minutes, and when Mike Roose made it 3-0 with a deadly finish from a Joe Ahern cross early in the second period it looked all over. But Llanrug were not finished, replying through Carl Griffiths and a cracking David Noel Williams free-kick to set up a nervy last few minutes. Three minutes into injury time, substitute Craig Griffiths settled it in Rhyl’s favour with number four. | 
