Llandudno vs Rhyl

Llandudno controlled the first half without creating a glut of clear chances, but the breakthrough arrived six minutes before the interval. Anthony Stephens swung in a free-kick from the left flank and Cal Stephens rose highest to power a header past the Rhyl goalkeeper — a well-rehearsed set-piece routine that paid off.

The home side's lead was slender at the break but they rarely looked threatened. Rhyl, who had lost four of their five pre-season friendlies leading into this fixture, struggled to create meaningful openings against a well-organised Llandudno defence.

The result was put beyond doubt in the second minute of stoppage time. Llandudno were awarded a penalty after a handball in the box, and Anthony Stephens stepped up to convert from the spot, sealing a 2-0 scoreline that reflected the balance of play.

The opening goal carried extra significance. Cal Stephens' 39th-minute header not only broke the deadlock but also gave Llandudno a platform to control the tempo in the second half. Rhyl had kept the hosts at bay for nearly 40 minutes, and conceding so close to half-time left them with a mountain to climb.

Cal Stephens (Llandudno) — Opened the scoring with a well-timed header from a set piece, demonstrating his aerial threat. His goal was the decisive moment of the match.

Anthony Stephens (Llandudno) — Involved in both goals: the first with a pinpoint free-kick delivery, and the second with a composed penalty under no pressure. A productive evening's work.

Llandudno defence — Kept a clean sheet against a Rhyl side that had scored in three of their previous four pre-season outings. Organised and disciplined across the 90 minutes.

The match was a low-event affair typical of mid-July pre-season football. The 2-0 scoreline (1-0 at half-time) tells a story of controlled dominance rather than a barrage of chances. Llandudno's first goal arrived from a set piece — a reliable source in pre-season when attacking patterns are still being sharpened — and the second came from a penalty. Rhyl's inability to convert any first-half openings into goals meant the game was essentially decided by the 39th minute.

For Llandudno, this was their fifth pre-season fixture of a seven-match schedule ahead of their return to the Cymru Premier in the 2026/27 season. Back-to-back victories build momentum. Their next friendly is against Northwich Victoria on 18 July.

For Rhyl 1879, the phoenix club continues a difficult pre-season campaign. They have lost all five of their summer friendlies so far, with narrow defeats to Flint Town United (3-2), Ashton Town (2-1) and Colwyn Bay (3-2) preceding this result. They host Northwich Victoria on 18 July before facing Port Vale on 28 July.

A controlled pre-season performance from Llandudno, who looked the sharper side and defended well without ever needing to hit top gear. The Stephens combination — Cal's header and Anthony's set-piece delivery and penalty — was the difference. Rhyl have work to do before the competitive season begins, but the fixture schedule was always likely to be challenging for a side rebuilding.