JD Welsh Cup – Llandudno Amateurs knock out mighty Bodedern in stunning upset
JD WELSH CUP SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND
Llandudno Amateurs 2 (Rogers 79, Sharp pen 90+3)
Bodedern Athletic 0
No doubt who caused the biggest upset of the Welsh Cup second qualifying round in the north – tier 5 North Wales Coast East Division One outfit Llandudno Amateurs.
The club with the illustrious name, which re-formed as recently as 2017, knocked out last season’s North Wales Coast West Premier champions and current tier 3 Ardal North West side Bodedern Athletic.
Two goals in the closing 15 minutes won it for the Amateurs, who won back-to-back titles in the Vale of Clwyd and Conwy League at the first attempts before joining the former Welsh Alliance League Division Two in the 2019-20 campaign, which was shortened by Covid.
After the cancellation of the 2020-21 season due to the pandemic, the Amateurs played in their current tier 5 division last term and finished third.
The Amateurs had pulled off a previous massive Welsh Cup shock in recent times, winning 5-2 away at Greenfield in 2018-19 thanks to goals from Martin Hughes (2), Aidan Bell, Steve Kirk and Joe Jones.
Then operating in Vale of Clwyd and Conwy Division One, the Llandudno side dumped out a team playing two levels above in Welsh Alliance Division One.
Saturday’s result was more stunning as Bodedern have been such a successful outfit over the past year.
After a goalless first half at the OPS Wind Arena, Maesdu Park, the deadlock was broken on 79 minutes when Aaron Rogers blasted home a thunderous right footer from the edge of the box.
Chris Jones had a chance to equalise for Boded in the 83rd minute but missed from the spot.
The Amateurs clinched it three minutes into added time when Gareth Sharp put away a penalty, sparking wild scenes of celebration from those in and around the home dugout.
Amateurs assistant-manager Carl Nichols said: “We started fast which was our game plan. We know they are a good side but we pictured let’s get at them.
“To be honest they weathered the storm and settled into their game after 20 minutes and they came back into the game.
“We noted that and made a change at half time bringing a striker (Jake Carey) off and adding a midfielder (Harry Montgomery).
“This seemed to give us more possession in the middle which is what we like. A few players cramped up as they had worked their socks off. Sol Pita especially, they were petrified of his pace. We made a few changes Luke Nichols, Davey Hughes and Callum (McMillan-Howden) came on for those players.
“Luke again showed his pace so there was no respite for their defence. Probably one of our best performances as a team.”
TEAMS
Llandudno Amateurs
Kyle King
Gareth Sharp
Joe Jones
Chris Smyth (Luke Nichols 74)
Aaron Rogers
David Williams
Jake Carey (Harry Montgomery 46)
Shay Oldham (David Hughes 74)
Anthony Tidswell
Lewis Appleton (Callum McMillan-Howden 87)
Sol Pita (Geraint Thomas 87)
Bodedern Athletic
Carl Jones
Jamie Jones
Joe Caven
Ryan Lees
Daniel Jones (Jordan Taylor 72)
Richard Williams
James McMinimee
Mohammed El-Arab (J Roberts 68)
Chris Jones
Marc Evans (Shaun Jenkins 72)
Casey Gregg