Following on from the disappointing end to Saturday's game against Mold Town United, where two late goals cost Flint Mountain a point, attention was quickly turned to this evening's game against league newcomers Hawkesbury Bell. The Mountain come into the game with concerns regarding available players due to various reasons and were forced into changes. Lee Evans and Matty Howard were to make their competitive debuts for the club, as well as assistant manager Rob Marshall, who was forced into action at the last moment. Also coming into the side were Ryan Jones and Lee Messham, making their first starts of the campaign.

It took some time for Flint Mountain to settle into the game, despite controlling the possession. Once they found their rhythm, Mountain firmly took control of the game were almost ahead when Jimmy McGlone out-muscled his marker, but watched his shot bounce off the post. On the quarter hour mark though, Flint Mountain were ahead. After staying forward following a corner, central defender Matty Howard received the ball outside the penalty area, before turning and curling a wonderful shot into the top corner, leaving the opposition goalkeeper stranded.

The goal seemed to ignite the Mountain confidence and shortly afterwards, the lead was doubled. Following good work which saw the ball played into the box, striker Lee Messham's effort was parried by the goalkeeper into the net. It was then the turn of Richie Hughes to open up his tally for the season. Hughes exchanged passes with Tom Heppleston, getting him past his marker and into the penalty area, before he calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner. Despite other chances to extend the lead, Mountain were happy to get into half time with a comfortable lead.

Any chance of a Hawkesbury fightback for extinguished almost straight from the restart. Jake Williams waltzed past five men before his shot was pushed onto the crossbar by the Hawkesbury keeper. Despite this, Williams was able to follow up and volley the ball home from the rebound. Mountain were not done and quickly added a fifth, as Lee Messham raced onto a through ball, reaching the ball ahead of the goalkeeper, before turning the ball into an empty net.

By this point in the game, Mountain were cruising and with half an hour still to play, added a sixth goal to their tally. Alex Millington could only muster one goal from midfield last season, but equalled that with his first of the season. Millington rose high after a chance was not cleared and headed home from close range. At this point, Mountain were able to replace assistant manager Rob Marshall, who completed a job well done at the back, with Lewis Evans, who slotted in at left back. As Mountain adapted to the defensive changes, Hawkesbury were awarded a dubious penalty, after Alex Millington was adjudged to have brought down his man. The Hawkesbury striker stepped up confidently, sending the ball down the middle, past Lee Evans and into the net.

With Hawkesbury tiring, Ricky Bennett was introduced on the right wing, replacing Tom Heppleston, to inject some fresh pace to the forward line. Bennett's introduction was well timed, as he won the ball and fired a shot from range, which crashed off the crossbar, where Lee Messham pounced on the rebound to secure his hat trick. Messham was not done and scored his fourth of the game as time ran out, racing onto a through ball, before firing low past the on-rushing goalkeeper and completing the scoring.

Next up for Flint Mountain is the short trip to Halkyn to face Halkyn United. This game will certainly be one that many of the players will be looking forward to, as many were recently playing for the club. Mountain will certainly be buoyed by tonight's result as they look to build momentum for the season.

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