Reports from the NEWFA Challenge Cup

NEWFA Challenge Cup round three reports – August 31

Chirk AAA 2 (Clamp, Middlehurst)
New Brighton 0

Goals from Lewis Clamp and Louie Middlehurst finally saw off the challenge of a stubborn New Brighton side.

The away team gave as good as they got in the first period. Chirk dominated the last half hour but laboured in front of goal.

Alistair Gibson missed a penalty on the hour before Leigh Griffiths saw red for New Brighton on 69 minutes.

Two late goals from Clamp and Middlehurst sealed Chirk’s passage to the quarter finals.

Man of the match was Ashton Williams.

Buckley Town 2 (Ahmed pen 54, Jones 60)
Holywell Town 1 (Andrews pen 14)

Leading 1-0 at half time, Holywell conceded twice after the break to suffer a disappointing exit from the NEWFA Challenge Cup at The Globe.

The visitors started well, Luke Wiltshire heading against the crossbar from a Danny Andrews cross before Dylan Allshorn’s effort flashed just wide.

With 15 minutes gone, Holywell were awarded a penalty. Zebb Edwards was pushed from behind and the referee pointed straight to the spot.

Andrews stepped up and fired home to give Johnny Haseldin’s side a deserved lead.

The goal spurred the Wellmen on and minutes later another great attack saw Jake Cooke in on goal but his shot was blocked by the keeper’s legs. Cooke was soon denied again by Cameron Darling in the Buckley goal.

Half-time: 0-1

The second half began for Holywell where they left off – in the ascendency.

Andrews rounded the advancing keeper but from a tight angle, he was only able to find the side-netting.

In the 54th minute Buckley levelled from the penalty spot.

Danny Sullivan was adjudged to have tripped Amin Ahmed, who got up and beat Keighan Jones from 12 yards to make it 1-1.

The goal lifted Buckley, and against the run of play they scored again to take the lead. A free kick was lofted into the box, where Josh Jones was able to bundle home on the hour.

Holywell rallied, Andrews thwarted by another fine Darling save.

The woodwork came to Buckley’s rescue again when Mark Winslade’s cross was knocked onto the crossbar then cleared by the defence much to the relief of the Buckley supporters.

The home side were reduced to 10 men in the 83rd minute, James Worthington seeing red for kicking out at a Holywell player in an off the ball incident following a foul.

The visitors looked for the equaliser they deserved, but Buckley held on.

Mold Alexandra 3 (Joey Ormrod 17, Conner Kendrick pen 32, Danny Warren 90)
Greenfield 1 (Aaron Boyle 41)

Mold needed a late Danny Warren strike to make sure of their place in the quarter-finals.

Controlling the first half, Alex took a 17th minute lead through Joey Ormrod and when Conner Kendrick converted a penalty just past the half-hour, it looked like a case of how many the home team would get.

But credit to Greenfield, who play at a level lower, they battled back to score through Aaron Boyle just before half time.

The second half presented a scenario of ‘next goal crucial’ but it did not come till the very end when Warren struck.

Saltney Town 0
Mynydd Isa Spartans 0

The necessity of extra time cost this tie a conclusive end.

It stood 0-0 after 90, but 10 minutes into the added half-hour the light had become too bad to carry on and the match was abandoned.

Round Two

Ruthin Town 6 (Hill 3, Rowlands, Cumming, Owen)
Rhydymwyn 0

A Matty Hill hat-trick and a goal each by Rhys Rowlands, Jamie Cumming and Wil Owen saw Ruthin safely into round three, where they will meet Ruabon Rovers from tier 5 on a date to be confirmed.