North East Wales League – Lex XI, Queen’s Park, Cefn Mawr and Castell Alun among winners in Mike Beech Memorial Cup

Cefn Mawr Rangers (red) take on Mynydd Isa Spartans. Picture: BOB POWELL

NORTH EAST WALES LEAGUE REPORTS – FEBRUARY 5

Mike Beech Memorial Cup knockout stages

Penyffordd Lions 2 FC Queen’s Park 3

Penyffordd keeper Mitch Callton scored from inside his own penalty area

Goalkeeper Mitch Callton scored a remarkable goal from inside his own penalty area for Penyffordd – but it was not enough to save his side from defeat to the Park.

In atrocious conditions which included a mighty wind, Gareth Higgins handed the Lions a third-minute lead before Callton doubled the advantage with his uncanny effort on 26.

The Park had the wind behind them in the second half and won it thanks to goals from Adam Roberts, Callum Roberts and Ross Bignall.

Castell Alun Colts 3
Hawarden Rangers 1

Alun progressed with a good win over Hawarden, Alister Randles, Nathan Davies and Thomas Adams their scorers, Joshua Rimmer replying.

All the goals arrived in the second half.

Cefn Mawr Rangers 3
Mynydd Isa Spartans 1

Jacque Coates (pen), Perry Shoemark (pen) and Matthew Jones found the net to seal Cefn a place in the next stage.

Two of the home goals came in the closing minutes after Jordan Walker had brought Spartans level early in the second half.

Chirk Town 2
CPD Sychdyn 0

Championship underdogs Sychdyn put up a tremendous effort at Chirk which perhaps deserved greater reward.

The visitors missed a host of chances and paid the price as goals from Matthew Cooke and Billy Nash sent the Premier Division leaders through.

Greenfield 3
Brymbo Lodge 0

This tie was awarded automatically to Greenfield – 3-0 as per the rules – because Brymbo Lodge could not raise a team.

Halkyn and Flint Mountain 6
Borras Park Albion 0

Aled Reece knocked in a hat-trick as Mountain breezed through at the expense of division-below opposition.

Alistair Gibson (2) and Peter Martin provided the rest of the goals.

Ruabon Rovers 2
Lex XI 7

Although struggling near the bottom of the Premier, Lex proved too good for the high-flying Championship hosts.

Finley Dyer scored four for the Lawmen, Alan Huxley delivered a double and Dom Harding a single.

Michael Jones bagged both for the home team.

North East Wales Football League Championship

Table up to February 5, 2022. Credit: http://www.allwalessport.co.uk

Caerwys 0
Connah’s Quay Town 5

Jonathan Rees captures some aerial combat in the match between Caerwys and Connah’s Quay Town

Town closed the gap on leaders Penyffordd to a single point with a game in hand after putting five past Caerwys at Lon-yr-Ysgol.

Kyle Amos, John Coady and Ryan Hewitt struck in the first half for the Deesiders.

After the break, Hewitt added his second and Lee Reynolds was also on the mark.

The visitors showed why they are near the top with a strong performance against a weakened Caerwys team missing eight players.

Keeper Tom Hooson had his work cut out in the opening half hour, stopping several one and one opportunities.

At the other end Jack Wakeman set up Toby Hughes who somehow blazed over an open goal from 10 yards.

34 minutes gone and Hooson will be disappointed as he allowed a free kick from Kyle Amos from 25 yards out to beat him at his near post.

Coady (41) and Hewitt (45) gave the Quay a decent interval lead.

Some harsh words at half time in the home dressing room provoked a response and Hughes was again guilty of missing two great chances before Hewitt cleverly chipped the advancing Hooson on the hour.

Great work by Wakeman set up Kyle Jones who shot over the bar from 18 yards and that summed up the finishing by the home team. Rowlands scored late on to make it five.