Welsh Cup classics No 10: Prestatyn Town v Goytre United (2009-10)

Prestatyn Town 5 (Evans 10, Walters OG 77, Parker 81, 109, 119)
Goytre United 3 (Kingdom 3, Price 26, Thomas 63)
Welsh Cup round four
Jan 31, 2009
After extra time

Following dramatic wins at Bala Town and Gresford Athletic in the previous two rounds, Prestatyn were made to struggle again before seeing off Welsh League underdogs Goytre in extra time.

Neil Gibson’s side trailed 3-1 after 76 minutes only to turn the tables in stunning fashion.

Michael Parker turned out to be the Seasiders hero with a hat-trick, setting up a quarter-final visit to fellow Welsh Premier outfit Aberystwyth Town.

It was the first time Town had reached the last eight of the competition in the club’s 99-year history.

Town looked dead and buried at Bastion Gardens when minnows Goytre led 3-1 with less than 15 minutes left, but an own goal and Parker’s leveller forced extra time.

There was only one team in it in the added 30 minutes, Parker’s double sealing a fantastic success watched by a woeful crowd of only 159.

Goytre struck after just three minutes when Danny Kingdom’s shot looped in off keeper Jon Hill-Dunt.

Town levelled on 10 minutes when Andy Davies’s cross from the right found Ian Griffiths and he set up Dan Evans to drill home.

The visitors led 2-1 at the break after Dale Price’s 26th minute free-kick went in via a lucky deflection off Parker.

On 63 minutes Goytre played to the whistle and Danny Thomas lashed home a left-foot beauty with home players more concerned about a head injury to Dave Hayes.

The Seasiders’ recovery began on 77 minutes when an Evans delivery went in off the head of Goytre’s Robbie Walters.

Four minutes later Fisher-Cooke broke to the byline, hit the post, but the ball rolled along the line for Parker to slot home.

Goytre visibly lost heart when skipper Darren Lyons was red-carded for a bad challenge five minutes from the end and in extra time two classy finishes from Parker sealed a great win.

Prestatyn lost 5-1 in the quarters to Aberystwyth, but just four years later Neil Gibson’s heroes were to lift the illustrious cup for the first-ever time – an occasion celebrated on Grassroots North Wales yesterday (May 6).