Gresford Athletic were brought back down to Earth after last week's victory as they suffered a big defeat against league leaders Holywell Town on matchday seven of the 2025/26 JD Cymru North on Saturday.

The game started fairly evenly, with both sides having posession of the ball and neither finding any real chances.

However, the momentum started to shift when Holywell Town were put 1-0 up in the 14th minute through a good strike from Fabrizio Murtas.

That's when the avalanche started - Craig Lindfield bagged in the 19th minute and then Jamie Breese's 21st-minute effort quickly followed.

The Wellmen also hit the woodwork through Danny Sullivan in the 24th minute, before Lindfield found his second goal of the game in the 28th minute to make it 4-0 just before the half-hour mark.

However, the away side did pull one back, as Mikey Davies produced a good ball towards Haci Ozlu, who tapped it home to put The Colliers on the scoresheet.

Holywell Town were not done yet, though, as Breese and Murtas both earned themselves braces in the 35th and 43rd minute respectively, with Ilan ap Gareth haunting his former club to add a seventh goal for The Wellmen before the break.

HALF-TIME | Holywell Town 7-1 Gresford Athletic

Gresford Athletic came out of the second half with a point to prove and Jake Roberts had the first chance of the half in the 48th minute, but his effort went over the crossbar.

Then, in the 53rd minute, substitute Alex Buxton and Toby Gallagher-Keenan had some good play, which saw the ball fall to Haci Ozlu, but the shot was wide.

Despite the bright start, Holywell Town did find their eighth of the game, as Craig Lindfield cemented his hat-trick in the 55th minute.

Gresford Athletic continued to fight, though, and Mitchell Williams managed to bag his first goal for the club in the 75th minute to give The Colliers a second goal.

Alex Buxton fired the ball towards goal from long-range in the 79th minute, but his effort went over the crossbar.

In the 82nd minute, Toby Gallagher-Keenan added a third Gresford Athletic goal with a fantastic strike into the bottom corner.

To finish things off, in the 90th minute, Dominic Deacon layed the ball off for Buxton, who curled it towards goal, finding the back of the net, but hitting Jake Roberts' head in the process to add a fourth.

It was some great spirit to find four goals, but The Colliers will be dissappointed with the manner that they allowed eight goals to go against them and will now look ahead to a break from league action with the JD Welsh Cup next week.

FULL-TIME | Holywell Town 8-4 Gresford Athletic

Holywell Town

Starting XI: Danby (GK), Williams, Sullivan (C) (Taylor - 72'), Bibby, ap Gareth (Kempster-Down - 65'), Lindfield (Weir - 65'), Cooke, Austin (Stead - 65'), Murtas, Breese (Buckley - 80'), Edwards

Goalscorers: Lindfield (x3), Murtas (x2), Breese (x2), ap Gareth

Subs Not Used: French (GK), McGovern

Gresford Athletic

Starting XI: Dutton (GK), Nicholas, Holden, Orton (Buxton - 46'), Mann (Deacon - 78'), Griffiths (C), I. Roberts (Williams - 46'), Davies (J. Smith - 72'), Gallagher-Keenan, Ozlu (Walters - 72'), J. Roberts

Goalscorers: Ozlu, Williams, Gallagher-Keenan, J. Roberts

Match Officials

Referee: Karl Berry
Assistant Referees: Luke Allsop, Ryan Hughes