Welsh Cup: Meliden fightback not enough to stop Rhydymwyn from progressing

Meliden’s Ashley New and Luke Astley (orange and black) try to get the ball from Rhydymwyn

Match Report: Ron Squire
Photography: Damon Mead

Meliden 2 (Evans, Thompson)
Rhydymwyn 3 (Cooper 2, Woosey)

After trailing 3-0 at half time Meliden mounted a late comeback but it was not enough to deny Rhydymwyn a place in the first round proper of the JD Welsh Cup.

The Miners had key players missing for this game and had to contend with early injuries,

Meliden tried to push and keep a strong shape against a persistent Rhydymwyn side, who managed to break through on 25 minutes after a mix-up in the box allowed Rhys Cooper to slide the ball home under Chris Wright.

Tier 3 Rhyd controlled the rest of the first half and scored two goals in a minute through Adam Woosey and Cooper.

In the second half, Meliden had plenty of early chances to launch a comeback.

Sam Haddon hit the corner of the bar from a free kick, while Joe Newell had some close calls.

Then in the 65th minute, Aled Evans made space for himself in the box and fired past Jack Wynne to make it 3-1.

Meliden now took the game to the visitors, and in the 83rd minute, Haddon delivered a curling free-kick into the box which met the head of Lewis Thompson to cut the deficit to a single goal.

In the dying moments, Meliden had a succession of free-kicks and corners, but just could not find the net.

Overall, a more-organised Rhydymwyn deserved to progress.