Football

FC Mally lift NWCFA Sunday Challenge Cup for a record fifth time

Mally skipper Shaheen (Twinny) Ahmed is overjoyed as he lifts the NWCFA Challenge Cup. ALL PHOTOGRAPHS BY MATT JOHNSON

2021-22 NORTH WALES COAST FA SUNDAY CHALLENGE CUP FINAL

FC MALLY 4 (Moorhouse, Lundstram, Hold, Robb)
Y CLWB 1 (C Moore)

FIVE TIMES: All hail the 2021-22 NWCFA Sunday Challenge Cup winners FC Mally of Llandudno Junction

Mighty FC Mally lifted the NWCFA Sunday Challenge Cup for a competition record fifth time in their history.

Andy Colville’s side today celebrated winning the first leg of what they hope to be a fourth quadruple since the team formed in 2012.

The Junction-based team are also in the finals of the Lee Jones Cup and Premier Cup and have a big chance of landing the Rhyl and District Sunday League title.

Taking on Glan Conwy’s Y Clwb, who held them 2-2 in a league game seven days earlier, today’s final at Bastion Gardens, Prestatyn, got off to a cautious start.

However, after 10 minutes, Jamie Moorhouse gave away a needless foul on the edge of his own area.

Y Clwb took the lead through a Cai Moore free kick. This photo is of another Clwb free kick taken later in the game.

Mally were punished when the resulting free kick from Cai Moore was fumbled by Liam Ewing and found its way into the net for 1-0.

The Junction men responded brilliantly with Moorhouse on the end of a fantastic cross to volley home for 1-1.

Moorhouse well and truly made up for his early error when he headed a deep corner back into the danger area for top-scorer Benn Lundstram to nod in his 21st goal of the season, making it 2-1 to the Mally at half time.

Jamie Moorhouse (6) gets in a header for Mally which resulted in a Benn Lundstram goal

With the final in the balance and both sides knowing the next goal was crucial, Mally made it 3-1 when the brilliant Adam Hold latched onto a through ball to convert.

Kyle Robb added the icing on the Mally cake by making it 4-1.

More unbelievable work from Hold saw him dance through a number of challenges and play the perfect ball into an unmarked Robb to slot home.

The last 25 minutes drifted without much happening and Mally coasted to yet another Sunday Challenge Cup victory.

Joy for the Junction boys

Manager Andy Colville was delighted at this team’s latest achievement, saying: “One down, three more to go as we look to complete yet another historic quad.

“Every single Mally player stood up and was unbelievable in their effort today. I also wish to thank the travelling support who turned up and helped the lads to victory.

“The whole squad wants to dedicate today’s victory to the women who keep the club going. Lynne (Plumb) sadly lost a friend in the week and that made today even more difficult for her, but like the family we are we pull together to get the job done.”

FC MALLY’S NWCFA SUNDAY CHALLENGE CUP TRIUMPHS

2021-22: FC Mally 4 Y Clwb 1
2018-19: FC Mally 5 FC Prestatyn 0
2017-18: FC Mally 5 Bar Bow 2
2014-15: FC Mally 5 Penbont Celts 0
2013-14: FC Mally 1 Bryngwran Bulls 0

In 2016-17 a team called FC Crozzy, involving several past FC Mally management and players, also won the cup, beating FC Pengwern 4-3 in the final. The name FC Mally was reintroduced in 2017-18.