Mally and Y Clwb advance to the NWCFA Sunday Challenge Cup Final after both semis produce 10 goals

FC Mally fire for goal. Picture: MATT JOHNSON

NWCFA 2022-23 SUNDAY CHALLENGE CUP SEMI-FINALS

Royal Oak 2 FC Mally 8

Oak on the attack. Picture: MATT JOHNSON

Two weeks after losing 2-0 at Royal Oak in the league, FC Mally exacted sweet revenge by thrashing the Rhyl side 8-2 to remain on course for a record sixth Challenge Cup success.

Ellis Blench struck twice for the Oak, but the Junction visitors ran riot with Kyle Robb 2, Jamie Moorhouse 2, Bradlee Rowlands, Lee Ellis, Adam Hold and Benn Lundstram seeing them to a thumping victory.

Y Clwb 6 Rhyl Rangers 4

Y Clwb made it back-to-back Challenge Cup finals with a hard-fought win over Rhyl Rangers.

Dion Lloyd scored four for the hosts, while Maxie Williams and Tyler Griffiths bagged the rest.

Macca Lewis returned to best form with a hat-trick for Rangers, Joel Rowlands adding a single.

Y Clwb played some nice football and an early goal after some defensive errors from the visitors saw the Glan Conwy men go one-up.

Rangers responded with good attacking play, but on the 25-minute mark, Y Clwb pounced on the counter to make it 2-0.

The away side rallied and Ash Andrews played a neat ball to Rowlands, who beat a few defenders and slotted in smartly to halve the deficit.

Rangers started to press well until once again they were hit on a breakaway to go 3-1 down.

Just before half time the Rhyl team won a penalty which Lewis converted – 3-2 half time.

Y Clwb took advantage of some slack defending from Rangers to move 5-2 up early in the second half.

Lewis hit back with a header from an Andrews corner to keep the visitors just about in touch.

However, Y Clwb struck again to clinch the tie.

Robert Lloyd saved a Clwb penalty, then Rangers won one of their own for a foul in the area on Shaun Edwards.

Lewis stepped up for his hat-trick and smashed the penalty in via the crossbar.

(Thanks to Rhyl Rangers for report)

MALLY’S RECORD FIVE NWCFA SUNDAY CHALLENGE CUP FINAL WINS

Mally celebrate last year’s fifth Challenge Cup success

2021-22: FC Mally 4 Y Clwb 1
2018-19: FC Mally 5 FC Prestatyn 0
2017-18: FC Mally 5 Bar Bow 2
2014-15: FC Mally 5 Penbont Celts 0
2013-14: FC Mally 1 Bryngwran Bulls 0

In 2016-17 a team called FC Crozzy, involving several past FC Mally management and players, also won the cup, beating FC Pengwern 4-3 in the final. The name FC Mally was reintroduced in 2017-18.