Cymru North Cup – Gibbs strikes twice in Hotspur triumph, wins for Chirk, Mold, Llandudno, Conwy Borough and Guilsfield

Welsh Blood Service Cymru North Cup reports – Saturday, September 3

Holyhead Hotspur 4 (Gibbs 17 & 43; Owen 60, Jones 70)
Prestatyn Town 1 (Atkins 90+5)

Hotspur erased the memory of a disappointing home league loss to Llanidloes the weekend before by whipping Prestatyn in Saturday’s cup clash at the New Stadium.
Darren Garmey’s side was quick out of the blocks and their crisp passing and constant movement was causing the visitors all kinds of problems.
Chances fell to Deian Parry and Aron Hughes-Jones, but both were unable to cap off what were lovely team moves.
Prestatyn struggled with the tempo of the home side and were pinned back for most of the half.
Jay Gibbs then opened the scoring on 17 minutes with an arrowing shot which found its way into the top corner with the goalkeeper at full stretch.
More pressing play from the home side forced Prestatyn skipper Sean Coulton into a foul at the edge of his box and the result as seen countless times before was a Gibbs trademark free kick straight into the top corner.
The second period was again all Holyhead, who were enjoying plenty of success down the flanks with Jamie Pick and Dean Garmey attacking at every chance.
The third goal came from a switch of play to Hughes-Jones who fed the over lapping Pick and his cross was finished by Kenleigh Owen on the hour.
With spaces opening up all over the pitch the home side did not have to wait long for the fourth and it came on the break when Gibbs found Mitch Jones and his finish went in off the post to the delight of the home support.
Prestatyn did get themselves a consolation with a breakaway goal for Daniel Atkins, who was impressive on the day.
Winning manager Garmey said: “It has felt like a long time since the Llanidloes loss, which was a result we did not really deserve. Today’s performance was not too dissimilar to that if I’m honest, but today we managed the game a lot better while ahead.
“We had a few players missing but the guys that came in performed brilliantly.”

Conwy Borough 1 Buckley Town 0

Rob Jones’ 85th minute penalty gave a Conwy side still searching for its first league win of the season a welcome boost in the cup.

Gresford Athletic 0 Guilsfield 1

Josh Astley scored the only goal on 32 minutes to send Guilsfield into the next stage at Gresford’s expense.

Holywell Town 1 Chirk AAA 1 (Chirk won 4-3 on pens)

Chirk advanced to the next stage after winning a dramatic penalty shoot out at Halkyn Road.
The Colliers looked the more likely to score in the first half, Lewis Clamp, Jack Orbell and Ed Baker all going close with Holywell keeper Keighan Jones producing some excellent saves.
Chirk keeper Joshua Jones was also on top form, keeping out efforts from Damien Ketley and Tom Bibby.
The second period started even but on 56 minutes Holywell went ahead, captain Danny Andrews finishing off a decent move down the left.
Town piled on the pressure in a bid to get their second goal with Andrews twice going close and Dave Hayes being denied by Jones.
Chirk made changes with Steff Rogers and Rhys Edwards coming on in the 62nd minute.
Both subs had a hand in the equaliser on 73 minutes with Rogers feeding the impressive Dale Davies, who in turn crossed for Orbell to flick on for Edwards to get clear of his marker and net a deserved equaliser.
Both teams had chances in the closing stages but the game finished level and went straight to penalties.
Holywell’s first penalty was finely saved by Jones and with Chirk scoring their first four through Louie Middlehurst, Davies, Orbell and Edwards, it was left to Jones to get a touch on Town’s fifth and push it over the bar to send the Colliers through.

Llandudno 3 Llanidloes Town 0

Youngster Issac Carey scoring on his full first team debut five minutes from time proved the icing on the cake for the Seasiders.
Sean Eardley’s side were already two-up with Danny Brookwell breaking the deadlock close to half time before Toby Jones added a second after 70 minutes.

Mold Alexandra 4 Penrhyncoch 0

Danny Warren (2), Ellis Hickey and Rhys Nash shared the goals which sent Mold sailing through to the last eight of the Cymru North Cup.
All the Alex net-finders came within the first 30 minutes at Alyn Park.