Meliden break Sports jinx in Intermediate Cup cracker at The Mine

NWCFA Intermediate Challenge Cup round one

Meliden 3 Prestatyn Sports 2

Meliden claimed a first win over Prestatyn Sports since 2015-16 – and only their second victory ever against their local rivals – in Saturday’s Intermediate Cup thriller at The Mine.

Not since April 28, 2016, when Oliver Buckley scored four times in a 5-2 Welsh Alliance League away triumph, had the Miners defeated their local rivals.

Before Saturday, the teams had met nine times in league encounters, Sports winning seven, Meliden one, and there was a 3-3 draw at The Mine last season.

This latest derby saw Meliden take a fourth minute lead through a beauty from 18-year-old livewire Lucas Edwards.

In a flying start from the hosts, Dylan Ford made it 2-0 from the penalty spot.

Mike Jones pulled one back for the visitors on 31 minutes, but another Edwards cracker ensured the home team led 3-1 at the break.

Lee Beattie cut the arrears on 57 minutes and the rest of the game was a real blood-and-thunder battle.

The 85th minute saw two red cards shown – one for Meliden’s Finlay Ellam and the other for Sports’ Lee Beattie.

A tremendous tie after which Meliden may feel they laid a ghost.

TEAMS

Meliden: Finnlay Kulavuz, Tom Fletcher, Luke Astley, Niall Butler, Reece Chamberlain, Lewis Thompson, Finlay Ellam, Lucas Edwards (Matty Griffiths 90+2), Joe Roberts, N/A (Macauley Ross 56), Dylan Ford (Jordan Miller 59).
Prestatyn Sports: Andrew Billington, James Weaver (Danny Grindley 65), Jared Hughes (Paul Brady 66), Shane Middleman, Gareth Walsh (Sam Brewerton 66), Mark Price, Antonio Jacovelli, Ian Griffiths, Mike Jones, Lee Beattie, Alex Hall.

CPD Llannefydd 8 Llanfairfechan Town 0

Elgan Roberts (2), Robin Hughes, Steffan Williams, Dafydd Jared Roberts, Andy Booker (2) and substitute Harry Kirkham shared the goals for the home side in this emphatic cup win.

CPD Pwllheli 2 CPD Llanberis 1

Carl Jones and Steffan Toplis put the hosts two-up at half time before Tomos Saynor replied for Llanberis on 64 minutes.
However, it was Pwllheli who edged the victory at The Rec.

Llandyrnog United 0 Mynydd Llandegai 3

David Hayes and Osian Jones struck in the first half for the visitors before Gethin Jeffreys made the game safe with a 50th minute third.

Menai Bridge Tigers 5 CPD Aberffraw 4

Craig Roberts (2. 1 pen), Callum Davidson and Lewis Clayton (2) shared the home goals in this narrow success for Menai Tigers.
Iolo Jones, Tomos Hughes (2) and Alan Williams replied for Berffro, who were always in contention in this nine-goal corker.