Welsh Cup classics – No 19: Llanrug United v Llanelli (2007-08) – so nearly a major upset!

Llanrug United 3 (Evans 20 & 75, T Williams 69)
Llanelli 5 (Thomas 17, 70 & 88, Pritchard 39, Griffiths 90)
Welsh Cup round three – November 3, 2007

Welsh Alliance underdogs Llanrug produced a fantastic performance to hold mighty Llanelli at 3-3 before the South Wales Reds netted twice in the last two minutes to edge this Welsh Cup classic at Eithin Duon.

Aled Owen’s home team gave a visiting side on their way to winning the Welsh Premier League that season a real fright in this David versus Goliath third round encounter.

Rank outsiders United came from behind three times to draw level, Richard Evans netting twice and Terry Williams once.

Wyn Thomas (2) and Mark Pritchard made it all-square entering the 88th minute. However, Peter Nicholas’s Reds scrambled over the line with late strikes from Thomas and Rhys Griffiths.

The disbelieving Welsh Alliance hosts were left with mixed feelings of satisfaction and sadness.

Manager Owen said: “At 3-3 with 82 minutes played, we believed we were in with a chance of winning. After all we had scored three brilliant goals and were playing so well.

“But we paid for some bad defending because Llanelli had all their goals from corners or long throws.

“It was a good day but it could have been a lot better – and we were so close to getting the result that we wanted.”

Llanrug fell behind on 17 minutes when Thomas steered a close-range header past ‘keeper Dave Ball, but the home side’s Richard Evans burst through to fire equaliser soon after.

Another header by Mark Pritchard restored the full-timers’ advantage on 39 minutes – and it stayed the same until Terry Williams’ reply on 69.

Llanelli took just 60 seconds to regain the lead through Thomas again, but ‘Rug would not lay down and a second for Evans made it 3-3.

Extra time was beckoning before hat-trick star Thomas and WPL top marksman Griffiths grabbed the late goals which prevented what could have been one of the Welsh Cup’s most romantic giant-killing stories being written.

Llanelli made it all the way to the final, where they were defeated 4-2 in extra time by Bangor City.