Seven-goal Griffiths sets Welsh scoring record
Saturday, March 15, 2014
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Port Talbot Town FC may be languishing towards the foot of the table but that did not stop Rhys Griffiths rewriting the record books on Friday – and he is not done yet.
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Port Talbot Town FC striker Rhys Griffiths said he wanted to continue rewriting the record books after becoming the first player to score seven goals in a Welsh Premier League game on Friday.
Griffiths' haul, including two penalties, came as Port Talbot claimed an overwhelming 8-2 derby victory away to local rivals and bottom-placed club Afan Lido FC. "It is something to be proud of but to be honest it hasn't really sunk in yet," Griffiths told UEFA.com after the match. "We were playing against a side who are struggling in the league and they went down to ten men early, but it is a nice achievement. I'm happy with every record that I can get. I want as many as I can."
The seven-goal return moves Griffiths to the top of the league scoring charts with 18 for the season, and into pole position for the golden boot – a prize he has won a record seven times. "The golden boot is something I think about, it's something I will always be known for, and it's an award I would love to win again," added Griffiths. "But, the most important thing is the club. We've had a disappointing season, we have underachieved. As much as I loved scoring seven goals today it doesn't make up for that fact."
Indeed, with just a handful of games remaining Port Talbot are ninth in the 12-team division, so personal glory may be all Griffiths can hope for this term. The 34-year-old, who returned for a third spell at the club last summer, says his most obvious rival for top scorer honours is a midfielder on 16 goals – Aberystwyth Town FC's Chris Venables. "I don't think anyone has stepped up to the plate this year, I don't think anyone has been exceptional in front of goal," he said. "But Chris Venables has been outstanding from midfield. He's the best player in the league by a country mile."
Griffiths is second on the list of all-time Welsh Premier League goalscorers, his tally of 255 in 342 appearances bettered only by the retired Marc Lloyd-Williams (319/468). Griffiths is also the only player to score a hat-trick in UEFA competition for a Welsh Premier League club, hitting three against Lithuania's FK Vetra in a 5-3 UEFA Intertoto Cup victory in 2007. He was just starting with his third on Friday night …
