FAW Amateur Trophy round five – how did North Wales clubs fare? Read on….

Denbigh Town and Rhos Aelwyd are the two remaining teams flying the flag for North Wales in the 2022/23 FAW Amateur Trophy quarter-finals.

Today’s fifth round ties saw Ardal North West side Town and Aelwyd of Ardal North East progress to the last eight, but there were heartbreaking exits for Bangor 1876, Llanberis and Nantlle Vale.

LAST EIGHT QUALIFIERS

Denbigh Town

Rhos Aelwyd

Baglan Dragons

Trethomas Bluebirds

Cardiff Corinthians

Bridgend Street

Llandrindod Wells

Pill

Denbigh Town 2 (Worrall 7, Foulkes 67)
Penydarren Seniors BGC 0

Report: Iwan Jones

Goals from Matthew Worrall and Jason Foulkes saw Denbigh advance to the Dragon Signs FAW Trophy quarter-finals at the expense of highly-rated Penydarren Seniors from Merthyr Tydfil.

Town prevailed despite going down to 10 men after 28 minutes when Worrall was red carded for an off the ball incident.

Penydarren had a player sent off on 80 minutes after a late tackle and the hosts were able to play the game out.

Denbigh started well and within four minutes Craig Pritchard had hit the post after Nathan Brown slid a pinpoint ball into his stride.

Penydarren responded, Aarran Caffell’s shot flying just over the bar from just outside the box.

A minute later Denbigh had the lead with a great team goal.

The ball was played from the centre-circle upwards with several men getting touches before it fell to Worrall, who skipped past his defender and smashed an unstoppable shot past Stephen Price in the Penydarren goal.

Denbigh continued to pressurise with Brown and Craig Rogers going close to increasing the lead.

With the home side in control of the game on the half hour mark, an off-the-ball incident in front of referee Stephen Jones saw goalscorer Worrall shown a straight red card.

Now down to 10 men, manager Dewi Llion Jones had to change tactics and Foulkes was pushed forward as a lone striker.

Penydarren understandably came more into the game, but Denbigh held firm.

Half-time: 1-0

Despite the handicap of having a man less, the hosts coped well in the second half and continued to create chances.

Pritchard was proving a thorn in the opposition side as he dribbled around their box to unleash a curling effort which Price was able to gather comfortably.

The visitors thought they had equalised on 57 minutes when a scramble in the Denbigh goalmouth led to Ben Lockley having to make a last-gasp goal line clearance.

This spurred Town into a response and Pritchard sent a shot which crashed off the underside of the crossbar and away to safety.

Denbigh’s persistence eventually told on 70 minutes and what a goal it was from Foulkes.

The striker collected the ball on the right-hand edge of the Penydarren penalty box and sent an unstoppable rocket into the far corner.

Penydarren were reduced to 10 men after Brown was on the end of a late tackle.

And Town went on to record a memorable win over Ardal South West opponents.

Rhos Aelwyd 3 (Robertson 8, Smith 74, R Jones 78)
Hakin United 1 (M Jones 66)

A great day for Rhos Aelwyd as the Ardal North East fourth-placed club became one of just two North Wales sides to reach the Trophy last eight.

Daf Robertson and Ryan Jones’ well-taken finishes either side of Tom Smith screamer from 25 yards saw the Wrexham outfit into the quarters.

Robertson struck on eight minutes, Mark Jones levelled for Hakin after 66, but Smith’s wonder strike with 74 on the clock restored the home advantage and Ryan Jones’ strike on 78 sealed victory.

The Aelwyd rode their luck at times, but some great saves from Danny Roberts and a tremendous display from the defence did much to secure a deserved place in the next round.

Baglan Dragons 1 (J Williams 51)
CPD Llanberis 0

Llanberis gave it everything and made Baglan work hard for their victory, but it was the tier 3 Ardal South West League hosts who reached the quarter-finals for a third season in a row thanks to Josh Williams’ second half strike.

Bangor 1876 1 (Clarke 45+3)
Trethomas Bluebirds 2 (A Jones 60 & 79)

Report: Jonathan Ervine

Two second-half goals from Trethomas’ Alfie Jones ended hopes of Trophy glory for Ardal North West title chasers 1876.

The Ardal South East visitors made a lively start. Huw Shaw had to be alert to gather at the feet of Ethan Edwards as the Bluebirds forward bore down on goal.

In the fifth minute, Liam Morris cut the ball back to 1876 top-scorer Corrig McGonigle, but his shot from seven yards out was well saved by Gareth Williams.

Moments later, Morris broke into the box but fired powerfully wide from a tight angle.

Joe Culshaw, Corey Jones and McGonigle all went close with headers before in first half injury time, Bangor finally made their pressure count.

Sion Edwards swung in a free kick that was met at the back post by Tom Clarke. The defender’s header back across goal dropped in at the far post to open the scoring.

The hosts started the second half strongly, McGonigle lashing narrowly wide before Williams did well to save a powerful long range shot from Les Davies.

Shortly before the hour, the visitors almost equalised after a long run forward from Charlie Loss who saw his shot cleared off the line by Clarke. However, Alfie Jones headed the visitors level shortly afterwards.

With just over 10 minutes left, Alfie Jones strode forward and curled in an excellent shot from just outside the box that went in off the post.

Bangor pressed for an equaliser, but it was not to be.

Nantlle Vale 2 Cardiff Corinthians 2
(Corinthians won 4-2 on pens)

Heartbreak for Nantlle as they went out on penalties to five-time Trophy winners Corinthians at Maes Dulyn.

Lamin Conteh gave their tier 4 visitors an 18th minute lead, but Vale turned things around by half time, Jamie Thomas levelling before Richard Jones edged the Penygroes men in front.

Aron Davies made it 2-2 four minutes into the second half and that was it until a penalty shoot-out decided things, Corinthians taking it 4-2.

OTHER LAST 16 RESULTS

Bridgend Street 5 Llansantffraid Village 2
Llandrindod Wells 5 Aberfan 0
Pill AFC 0 South Gower 0 (Pill won 3-2 on pens)