Welsh Cup round two North reports – heartbreak for Chirk, all tier 3 and 4 sides are out
FAW WELSH CUP ROUND TWO REPORTS
Chirk AAA 1 The New Saints 1 (TNS won 4-2 on pens)
Chirk took the lead and were on course to cause one of the all-time great Welsh Cup upsets, but in the end holders TNS scraped through on penalties.
The Cymru North underdogs had their game plan, stuck to it and made it difficult for the Cymru Premier champions to create any significant chances in the opening exchanges.
And when they did they found the Colliers defence in resolute form with Jake Ellison standing out, keeping CPL top-scorer Declan McManus under close scrutiny all game.
Adam Wilson went close on 25 minutes and Chirk keeper Mark Richards pulled off a great stop with his legs to deny ex Wrexham striker Adrian Cieslewicz after 34.
Chirk held firm and went in at half time all-square.
The home fans went wild on 51 minutes when Ryan Davies picked up a loose back pass from Danny Williams and beat TNS keeper Connor Roberts with a decisive finish to put the home side ahead.
Dale Davies almost made it two on the hour mark but was foiled by a last-ditch tackle from Chris Marriott.
The away team missed a glorious chance to equalise when McManus fired a penalty – awarded for a foul on himself by keeper Richards – against the bar on 66 minutes. However, they did get the leveller minutes later when Keston Davies nodded home at the back post from close range.
The game was now quite even with both teams looking for a winner but it finished level and went to penalties.
Unfortunately for Chirk they missed two of their opening four spot kicks with the Saints converting all their efforts to squeeze through to the last 32.
Bow Street 1 Colwyn Bay 4
Ardal North East underdogs Bow Street stunned Bay by taking the lead before a strong second-half comeback from the Seagulls evaded a shock result.
Ifan Burrell put the hosts in front after only 10 minutes following a free kick and he could have got a second only to be denied by keeper Ryan Woods in a one-on-one.
Under pressure Colwyn eased their nerves when James Kirby equalised from the penalty spot on 26 minutes after Matty Hill had been brought down in the area.
It needed a goal-line clearance by Lewis Sirrell to prevent the home side retaking the lead just before half-time.
The Seagulls were much better in the second half, two goals in four minutes midway through finally putting them in charge.
Jamie Cumming put the visitors 2-1 up on 64 minutes and then Alex Downes fired home his fifth goal of the season.
Woods had to make another good save to prevent Burrell pulling a goal back, but the Bay put the icing on their cake with a fourth goal two minutes into added time when a cross from Joe Williams set up a tap-in for Tom Creamer.
Caersws 0 Flint Town United 1
Cymru Premier Flint needed a second-half penalty to see off the determined challenge of a Caersws outfit operating two levels below in Ardal North East.
The decisive moment came in the 54th minute when Brandon Diau’s header beat home keeper Jack Perry, but was palmed over the bar by covering defender Calum Bennett.
Bennett was shown a red card and Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro’s none-too-convincing penalty saw Perry get firm hands to the ball, but only help it into the net.
Denbigh Town 1 Connah’s Quay Nomads 5
No shock outcome at Central Park, with Cymru Premier visitors Nomads progressing thanks to a brace from Mike Wilde, a Callum Morris penalty and goals from Harry Franklin and George Horan.
Denbigh did have the consolation of skipper Paul Fleming scoring with a stupendous volley with the score at 2-0 to the Deesiders.
FC Queen’s Park 0 Airbus UK Broughton 3
Good show by Queen’s Park against opponents three leagues above them in the pyramid.
Brett Knight scored the only goal of the first half on 25 minutes, but the Park had their moments, Liam Davies forcing Lewis Dutton into a fine save from an angled drive before Curtis Neary found himself free at the back post but headed just wide.
Early in the second half came a big chance for the tier 4 North East Wales Premier hosts, but Davies scuffed his shot.
At the 70-minute mark, the tie was still wide open, but goals from Jake Eyre and Joe Palmer finally killed the contest.
CPD Y Felinheli 1 Conwy Borough 4
The final scoreline does not tell the entire story as Felinheli were bang in contention at just 2-1 down when half time arrived.
Goals from John Littlemore and Cian Evans put the visitors in seeming command before Jack Cain pulled one back for the Ardal North West hosts on 37 minutes.
Second-half strikes from Craig Whelan and Cory Williams sealed it for the Cymru North side.
Flint Mountain 0 Caernarfon Town 4 (played Friday)
Grassroots North Wales carried a fuller report on this tie on Friday evening.
Caernarfon progressed comfortably thanks to goals from Rob Hughes (2, 1 pen), Fidel O’Rourke and Tom Marsh-Hughes.
Glantraeth 0 Cefn Druids 5
This one went to form with tier 4 strugglers Glantraeth eventually comfortably beaten by Cymru North visitors Druids.
Charlie McMahon put the Ancients one-up after just three minutes, but for the rest of the half the hosts remained disciplined and hard to break down.
Neil Ashton’s side took total command in the second half, Adam Stephens (2, 1 pen) and Callum Stephens (2) taking the favourites out of sight.
Hawarden Rangers 1 Bala Town 6
Adam Roscrow (3), James Davies, Nathan Peate and George Newell sealed a straightforward win for a Bala side which led 4-0 at half time.
Sub Thomas Bridges notched a consolation for tier 3 Ardal North West newcomers Hawarden.
Llandudno Albion 0 Buckley Town 3
Connor Littler, Joe Davis and Aled Bellis provided the goals for Cymru North visitors Buckley at the OPS Wind Arena.
Tier 3 Albion battled hard, but a third goal early in the second half from the away side effectively killed them off.
Llanrug United 0 Gresford Athletic 3
Early goals from Paul Johnson and Jacob Barratt set up Gresford for the victory at Eithin Duon.
George Macready made sure of the Cymru North side’s progression with a third goal on 72 minutes.
Llanuwchllyn 0 Holywell Town 5
It was not until the second half that Holywell showed their superiority.
The deadlock was broken when Tom Bibby was brought down in the box and Dave Forbes put away the resulting penalty.
Forbes went on to grab a hat-trick, while Haci Ozlu’s stunner brought him a first goal for the club and Ilan ap Gareth rounded off a slick move to end the rout.
Mold Alexandra 3 Holyhead Hotspur 1
An all-Cymru North tie saw Mold emerge victorious, Steve Watkins, Danny Warren and Callum Freeman sharing the home goals.
Hotspur’s sole reply came via a Kenleigh Owen spot-kick.
Penycae 1 Guilsfield 4
Josh Astley’s hat-trick, one a penalty, went a long way to booking Guilsfield their place in the last 32.
Jamie Hyne also struck for the visitors, Harry Killick with a 90th minute response for the hosts.
Prestatyn Town 2 Llandudno 0
A great win for Prestatyn over a Llandudno side a few notches above them in the tier 2 Cymru North.
Two goals in three second half minutes from Daniel Atkins and Sean Coulton secured the win for Chris Jones’ Seasiders.
Although the hosts had Kurtis Pearson red carded on 59 minutes, it had no effect on the result.
CPD Y Rhyl 1879 0 Ruthin Town 2
Second-half goals from Llyr Morris and Gwion Owen saw Ruthin through.
This match was reported in depth by Grassroots North Wales on Saturday.