North Wales football: seven top weekend performances (sep 28)

Denbigh Town 2 Mynydd Isa Spartans 3
Welsh Cup second qualifying round

Kallum Pierce was the toast of Mynydd Isa after his hat-trick produced one of the biggest shocks on Welsh Cup weekend.

Welsh Alliance Division One leaders Denbigh were expected to get past their Welsh National League Division One opponents fairly comfortably, but it did not turn out that way.

James Hollyoak’s side came up with probably the best performance in their short existence to knock out their illustrious hosts.

Aberffraw 2 Glan Conwy 1
Welsh Cup second qualifying round

Another big upset at Cae Cynlas as Welsh Alliance Division Two bottom side Aberffraw beat Division One mid-table outfit Glan Conwy in the Welsh Cup.

Berffro have become quite renowned in recent seasons for their ability to conquer highly ranked clubs in knockout competitions – and so it proved again on Saturday.

Nathan Moore and Gary Bolton notched the all-important goals for the Anglesey men.

Bangor 1876 6 Penrhyndeudraeth 2
Welsh Cup second qualifying round

Right now any win for this highly promising 1876 side may not be seen as that unexpected, such has been their impressive start, but the fact remains they beat a team from two levels higher in the Welsh Cup on Saturday.

And Mel Jones’ Gwynedd League team did not just defeat Welsh Alliance Division One visitors Penrhyndeudraeth – they hammered them. Their achievement cannot be under-estimated.

Les Davies wrote another chapter in his colourful and illustrious career with his first-ever senior four-goal haul, while 17-year-old sensation Dylan Summers-Jones added a brace, keeper Leon Jones also saving a penalty.

Mynydd Llandegai 4 Nefyn United 7
Welsh Cup second qualifying round

Bangor 1876 are not the only side from the Gwynedd League who are making waves in the cups.

Nefyn United not only dumped a team two notches ahead of them in the pyramid out of the Welsh Cup, they also scored seven away goals against Mynydd Llandegai.

Having already booted Welsh Alliance team Penmaenmawr Phoenix out of the FAW Trophy, the Penwaig also marched into the Welsh Cup first round proper on Saturday.

Carl Jones (3), Steve Jones (2), Dylan Sion Jones and Iolo Jones shared Nefyn’s tally in this magnificent performance.

Gwalchmai 2 Pentraeth 3
Welsh Alliance Division Two

Bottom of Division Two before kick-off on Saturday without a win to their name in eight attempts, Pentraeth broke their duck in fine fashion away to Gwalchmai, who seven days earlier were 3-1 down to high-flying Llannefydd only to score three times in the last seven minutes to win 4-3.

Football can be such a leveller.

Rees Roberts was Pentraeth’s hat-trick hero, with 16-year-old debutant keeper Morgan Goodman also having a promising game.

Penrhyn Bay Dragons 2 Rhyl All Stars 5
Vale of Clwyd and Conwy League Division One

When you’re a new team and have lost your first six league games, conceding 37 goals in the process, it can really knock your confidence.

But Rhyl All Stars never stopped believing.

Once manager Robert Cunnah managed to get together close to a full-strength squad, his lads went out and did the business in style with a 5-2 win at Penrhyn Bay Dragons.

Mehmed Barzev wrote himself into club history with a hat-trick, Simon Roberts and Ricky Roberts also on target for the visitors.

I saw All Stars lose 9-0 to NFA earlier in the season, but for the first 35 minutes it was 0-0 and they really competed well. I saw then something that suggested to me they would find that all-important win sooner rather than later. I was right.

Cefni 1 Mountain Rangers 0
Rawson Digital Elias Cup first round

There was quite a surprise in the Elias Cup on Saturday when Cefni knocked out Anglesey League leaders Mountain Rangers 1-0, Lee Lewis with the only goal.

Cefni are currently third bottom of the table, but have in the past shown an ability to upset the higher-placed teams.

In fact, they had given Mountain Rangers a previous scare this season when drawing unexpectedly 3-3 at Rhosgadfan in the league on August 20.

Rangers are still unbeaten in the league, though, and will see Saturday’s result as a blip which they will aim to put right this weekend coming at home to Llandegfan.