Our greatest ever result? Gwalchmai cause Welsh Cup sensation back in 2010-11

Anglesey villagers CPD Gwalchmai achieved one of the greatest results in their history on September 14, 2010, when they knocked Buckley Town of the Cymru Alliance out of the Welsh Cup on penalties.

It was a tremendous giant-killing act by the Welsh Alliance hosts, who held their illustrious visitors to 2-2 after extra time and then prevailed 4-2 on spot-kicks in a second round clash at an emotion-charged Maes Meurig.

Joint managers Paul Owen and Rob Hughes could not have been more proud of their team.

“It’s a fantastic result for Gwalchmai,” said Owen after the tie. “We weren’t expected to win but from the first whistle to the last every one of our players gave everything and did the club proud.

“When it went to extra time I knew we had it, I had a feeling it was our day.“

Assisted by the wind, Buckley did most of the attacking in the first half, but the Gwalchmai back-four coped admirably with the visitors’ long ball tactics.

The Welsh Alliance side’s best chance fell to James Burgess who missed from three yards out, but on 41 minutes Bucks grabbed the lead when Anthony Williams’ volley from close to halfway sailed in over keeper Kenny Hughes.

Gwalchmai came out all guns blazing for the second half and it was fully deserved when they pulled level on 65 minutes.

Keeper Hughes thumped the ball forward, the Buckley defence failed to clear and Gareth Allman pounced to control and fire past the keeper.

However, 10 minutes later Town were back in front when Williams scored again with a cracking strike which gave Hughes no chance.

Paul Tilbury came on for Burgess and immediately began to cause trouble for the opposition defence.

Mark Griffith hit a screamer across an empty goal before on 84 minutes a free-kick from Hughes was latched upon by Tilbury who knocked in the equaliser.

In extra time one would have expected the higher level team to have prevailed stamina-wise but it was quite the opposite as Bucks tired and Gwalch never stopped coming.

Tilbury, Griffith and Gerallt Jones all went close for the islanders, but come the end of 120 minutes the teams remained inseparable at 2-2.

It came down to penalties and Gwalch glovesman Kenny Hughes emerged the hero, keeping out two kicks as the hosts took the honours 4-2.

Writing afterwards on Gwalchmai’s website, the words of club photographer Dai Sinclair spoke volumes: “These bunch of players play because they have pride in their club. They play for that and nothing else. That showed through today and we deserved our victory.”

In the third round (last 32) Gwalchmai landed an even bigger tie at home to Welsh Premier League side Port Talbot Town, beaten finalists in the Welsh Cup to Bangor City the previous season.

Gwalch were unfortunately without main striker Corey Sinnott through injury and despite giving Port a good test, the WPL team eventually won 4-1, the game being televised by S4C’s Sgorio programme. The islanders picked up a handy £1,500 in prize money.

To reach the third round, Gwalchmai had beaten Dyffryn Banw (4-0) and Barmouth and Dyffryn (4-0), but it was that victory over Buckley which truly put the Anglesey heroes on the map.