NWCFA Junior Cup – Bow, Abergele, Cemaes Bay and Llandudno Amateurs reach semi-finals
NORTH WALES COAST FA JUNIOR CHALLENGE CUP QUARTER-FINALS
Llanfairpwll 0
Bow 1 (O’Carroll 87)
Sixteen-year-old sensation Loui O’Carroll notched the 87th minute goal which secured Bow a NWCFA Junior Cup semi-final berth in their debut season.
Saturday’s last-eight tie at Maes Eilian saw the Prestatyn-based North Wales Coast East Division One newcomers take on long-established Llanfairpwll of the equivalent division in the North Wales Coast West League.
An even, tight contest was expected on Anglesey and that is how it turned out.
Llanfair started on the front foot, forcing a good early save from Richard Hillier-Evans, while some last-ditch tackles from newcomers Aaron Boyle and Steve Middleman kept the home front-runners at bay.
When Bow did attack they made progress through some fantastic balls from debutant Boyle to wingers O’Carroll and Richard Hill, who both gave the opposition defence problems.
The first half overall was quite even with both teams battling for possession and producing some nice passages of play.
In the 41st minute, O’Carroll was set free by another Boyle ball, went past a couple of players and let fly, but saw his shot well saved by Rhys Owen.
Bow began to take charge at the start of the second half, striker Kyle Lally rounding the keeper but firing just over the bar.
O’Carroll went close with a long range effort and Owen made a couple of decent saves.
Into the final 15 minutes and Llanfair threatened down the wings, but the Bow defence coped admirably, keeper Hillier-Evans also racing off his line to make a vital clearance.
Then three minutes from time came the magic moment for the visitors.
Josh Lally brought a long ball forward from the hosts under control and found Boyle, who played a lovely pass to O’Carroll and he took it round a defender and went one on one with the goalkeeper.
As cool as you like the young man rounded Owen and walked the ball into the net, which sparked massive celebrations in the Bow camp.
Bow defended well to see the game out and book a last-four place where they will meet either Abergele, Cemaes Bay or Llandudno Amateurs.
TEAMS
Llanfairpwll: Rhys Owen, Dei Thomas, Ieuan Grenier, James Couchman, Aled Davies, Jamie Patterson, Morgan Rowlands, Marquis Holland, Rees Roberts (Adam Thomas 75), Carwyn Roberts (Thomas Mummery 68), Cian Owen.
Bow: Richard Hillier-Evans, Dean Davies, Arron Querci, Stephen Middleman, Aaron Boyle, Richard Hill (Barry Roche 70), Loui O’Carroll, Cale Kemp, John Atherton (Josh Lally 65), Mike Chapman, Kyle Lally (Kelvin Berks 65).
Bethesda Rovers 1 Llandudno Amateurs 7
Five second-half goals clinched a place in the semis for the Amateurs, who led just 2-1 at the interval.
Goals from Gaz Sharp and Lewis Appleton, after 17 and 27 minutes respectively and both assisted by Kyle Johnson, gave the visitors a handy lead, but Andrew Hughes replied for Rovers in first half added time to keep the game very much alive.
After the break, both Appleton and Sharp added their second goals, then Amateurs keeper Kyle King produced a great penalty save from Kieron Bullock.
That signaled the end of the home team’s hopes as a Chris Smyth double and Azz Rogers single put the free-scoring travellers out of sight.
Cemaes Bay 2 Holyhead Town 0
Goals from Matt Reynolds on 38 minutes and Gary Jo Owen after 54 established a winning lead for cup holders Cemaes at School Lane.