CPD Y Rhyl 1879 land their first trophy!

NORTH WALES COAST EAST LEAGUE COOKSON CUP FINAL 21-22

CPD Llannefydd 0
CPD Y Rhyl 1879 2 (Miles Todd 45+2, Mike Walsh 62)

Rhyl 1879 have won their first trophy – but it will surely not be their last.

Gareth Thomas’ side lifted the Cookson Cup on Wednesday night after beating league title rivals Llannefydd 2-0 at Colwyn Bay.

It was a tough test for the Belle Vue side against opponents who have held them twice in the North Wales Coast East Premier Division this season. In fact, Llannefydd are the only team to take points off Rhyl in the league.

For triumphant manager Thomas it was the continuation of a love affair with the Cookson Cup.

He won it with Halkyn United in 1998, Conwy Borough as part of a treble in 2018 and now Rhyl 1879.

Wednesday night’s showpiece saw 1879 take the lead in first-half added time.

A corner looped over by Zac Tyler-Holland from the right was headed into the six-yard box by Oliver Staveley at the back post and defender Miles Todd nodded in from close range.

The lead was doubled in the 62nd minute when the experienced Mike Walsh hit a wonder strike from a good 45 yards out which keeper Elias Jones was unable to reach. A truly astonishing goal.

Llannefydd never gave in and could have really turned up the pressure in the dying stages had a late disallowed goal stood.

Rhyl 1879 will now aim for a treble with a league title bid and a NWCFA Intermediate Cup final still to come.

RHYL

Ryan Roberts, Chris Bennett, Casey Faulkner, Miles Todd, James Jones (c), Mike Walsh, Elliott Evans (Macauley Taylor 62), Oliver Staveley, Tom Cain (Leon Atkins 55), Carl Lamb, Zac Tyler-Holland (Eamon Buhalfaia 66).

LLANNEFYDD

Elias Jones, Guto Dafydd Owen, Jared Jones (Rhys Johnson 90+4), Ciran Jones, Elgan Roberts, Sam Lewis (Lewys Jones 68), Llion Morris, Ed Jones, Luke Appleby (Steffan Williams 68), Nico Clwyd, Jared Roberts.