North Wales Coast East – reports from Cookson and REM Jones Cups, four goals for Griffo
NORTH WALES COAST EAST LEAGUE
COOKSON CUP
Prestatyn Sports 5 CPD Cerrigydrudion 0
Four-goal hero Ian Griffiths turned back the clock with a vintage display of finishing as Sports progressed to the last eight of the Cookson Cup at The Meadows.
Griffiths, 37, has scored goals at every level throughout his long career, from tier 1 Welsh Premier with Prestatyn Town to current tier 4 with Sports, for whom he has long secured legendary status.
Saturday brought a true masterclass by “grandad goals” as he is now affectionately known at his club.
After a nervy opening five minutes, Griffiths found himself through on goal, nicely lofting the ball over the Cerrig keeper to make it 1-0.
From then on there was only one team in it, the front two of Griffiths and Mike ‘Smurf’ Jones combining brilliantly at every opportunity.
The second goal came on the quarter hour mark when Jones was fouled in the box, giving “Griffo” the chance to step up for his second of the day, hitting the ball firmly past the keeper.
Sports continued to press forward and in the 33rd minute Griffiths made it a hat-trick when he collected the ball coolly bringing it under control and dispatching it to make it 3-0.
Just over a minute later three became four when a brilliant Mark Price free kick was floated into the area and after a scramble finished from close range by Griffo with a helping hand from Paul Brady.
Half-time: 4-0
The second half began with Cerrig attempting to come back into the game but Sports held firm, rode out the pressure and continued to dominate.
The scoring was finished on the hour mark when club legend Gaz Walsh found himself free at the back post to knock the ball home after another excellent delivery into the box.
Blaenau Amateurs 0 Rhuddlan Town 0 (Rhuddlan won 4-3 on pens)
Skipper Ben Jacobson put away the deciding penalty as Rhuddlan advanced to the next stage of the Cookson Cup.
It was a tough test for the visitors at Cae Clyd against a Blaenau side whose recent form has been much improved.
CPD Bro Cernyw 2 Mochdre Sports 2 (Bro Cernyw won 6-5 on pens)
Premier Division strugglers Bro caused something of a surprise by eliminating Mochdre on spot-kicks.
Alex Williams gave Sports an early lead before Colin Roberts missed a penalty for the hosts.
Ifan Hughes made it 1-1 in the 53rd minute and Tom Sheridan edged Cernyw in front before Jordan Phillips equalised to force the shoot-out which Bro edged.
Kinmel Bay 0 St Asaph City 3
Ryan Potts (2) and Tyler Joyce shared the goals as Saints advanced to the last eight at Y Morfa.
Llandudno Junction 5 CPD Llansannan 3
Jack Williams (3) and Tomos Rhys-Williams (2) were the goal-getting heroes for victorious Junction.
Gwion Bibby (2) and James Thomas responded for the visitors.
Llandyrnog United 0 Llanfairfechan Town 2
Elliot Croston and Ellis Jones delivered the goals that sent Llanfairfechan through at Cae Nant.
Llandyrnog’s cause was not helped by having Robert Hurst sent off on 41 minutes with the score at 0-0.
CPD Llannefydd 2 Penmaenmawr Phoenix 3
What a great result for a Phoenix team capable of beating anyone on their day.
Daniel Williams, Joe Williams and Mezz Knight bagged the goals that ensured Martyn Jones’ side advanced in extra time, Andrew Thomas and Morgan Jones on the mark for the hosts.
Meliden 5 Glan Conwy 1
Dylan Ford was a hat-trick hero in Meliden’s comfortable elimination of visitors Glan Conwy at The Mine.
Joe Roberts and Connor Beattie also found the net for the hosts, Jonathan Mee replying.
REM JONES CUP
Abergele 4 Rhos United 3
Pity there had to be a loser in this seven-goal cup classic.
Abergele started off well and looked to go into the lead when Ben Pamment was fouled but Jack Hoult’s penalty was saved.
This spurred on Rhos who took a foothold in the game and found themselves in front midway through the first half via the gifted Lewis Sealey.
Ben Knight equalised a minute later but Abergele found themselves 2-1 down at the interval after Phemmy Allison edged United back in front.
Shortly after the restart Gele fell even further behind when Scott Court made it 3-1 and an early cup exit was on the cards.
However, Dom Holland pulled one back on the hour mark and sparked a home comeback.
Ten minutes later some clever work by veteran midfielder Jimbo Hay in the area saw him bring the ball down, strike it well and Hoult made amends for his earlier penalty miss by guiding it into the net. At this point Abergele were in the ascendancy.
The home team piled on the pressure and were camped in the Rhos half. The tie was sealed late on thanks to a Frankie Hennigan goal to see the men in red and black into the next round.
Rhyl All Stars 3 CPD Y Glannau 9
Parcels man Ged Burke well and truly delivered the goods as his man of the match performance and hat-trick helped Y Glannau into the last eight, where they will take on Llysfaen.
The visitors were three-up inside the first seven minutes.
A Josh MacGillivray ball in wasn’t dealt with and Harrison Bellis was there to open the scoring.
Three minutes later a long ball from Kyle Hedge released Burke, who played a one-two with Harrison, then finished nicely.
Harrison Bellis then cut in from the wing, dribbled the ball into the box and applied a great finish for 3-0.
Bellis made it a 16-minute treble when he latched onto a lovely chip over the defence from Alec Williams to score in style.
All Stars responded when Frankie Davies connected well, but Brad Wright was there to tip the shot onto the post and then got up to deny Joe Smith from the rebound.
After 27 minutes it was 5-0. Tawse Cox won the ball back, then smartly fed Harrison Bellis, who drilled across the goal and MacGillivray finished emphatically.
Five soon became six when a missile of a throw from MacGillivray to the back post was headed in by Burke.
Right on half time All Stars were awarded a penalty, which Frankie Davies converted.
Fair play to All Stars, they really did give it a good go in the second half and got another one back through Ebin George.
Straight from the restart. Harrison Bellis made it three assists as his pass fell into the path of Burke, who lashed in for his hat-trick.
Davies struck again for All Stars to make it 7-3, but eight minutes from time Michael Bellis’ strong run into the box was ended illegally and Joey Fontana scored from the spot.
Y Glannau fittingly had the last word when substitute Travis Corey Williams made it 9-3.
Bow P Betws-y-Coed P
Llysfaen 4 CPD Caer Clwyd 3
Goals from Jake Reynòlds Joshua Smith, Harry Davies and a Nihat Sutlubulak free kick ensured Llysfaen progressed to the quarter final of the REM Jones Cup.
A very sporting Llysfaen manager Emlyn Robert Jones said after the tie: “Caer Clwyd can count themselves unlucky, due to their dominance in the first half and we wouldn’t have complained had we been 3, 4 or maybe 5 down.”
Shaun Edwards, Craig Lavery and Elis Davies struck for Clwyd.
Penrhyn Bay 1 Rhyl Dragons 2
Colin Sargerson and Hari Griffiths bagged the goals which sent the Dragons through and made it five successive wins for the Rhyl side.
Toby Holloway had earlier put Penrhyn Bay in front.
Shaun Walsh of Dragons was shown a red card on 68 minutes.