North Wales Coast East – Glan Conwy celebrate first league win at 23rd attempt, Sports edge cup thriller
NORTH WALES COAST EAST LEAGUE – MARCH 25 REPORTS
Premier Division
Meliden 2 Glan Conwy 3
At the 23rd attempt Glan Conwy finally got that winning feeling.
The Premier’s bottom side had previously suffered 20 defeats in 22 matches this season, managing just two draws.
But the village team’s performances had improved of late and things came good at last as they claimed a 3-2 victory at Meliden.
The first half at The Mine saw the hosts mainly on top but coming up against some stubborn Glan defending.
Joe Newell hit a rasper of a shot for the home side on 14 minutes which rattled the crossbar.
Five minutes before the interval came a breakthrough, Callum Herd with a stunner to put Meliden ahead.
Anyone expecting the Prestatyn-area home team to run away with it in the second half were in for a rude awakening.
Seven minutes after the restart Sam Porter made it one-apiece.
In the 71st minute Porter struck again to the delight of the Conwy Valley visitors.
Meliden pushed for a leveller, but in the 90th minute the points were all but sealed when Joel Morgan Jones made it 3-1.
Lewis Thompson bagged a consolation for the hosts three minutes into added time, but Harry Sweetman’s Glan held on for a memorable triumph.
Glan Conwy: Ryan Fox, Gaz Olte, Trefor Jones, Ben Williams, Tyler Trow, Sam Birchall, Tyler Griffiths, Joel Morgan Jones, Sam Porter, Oliver Carey, David Hansom. SUBS: Mackenzie Williams, Jake Colville, N/A, Harry Sweetman, Andy Leater.
Kinmel Bay 1 Llandudno Junction 1
Liam Jones’ 87th minute equaliser earned a point for Kinmel Bay.
Tomos Rhys Williams had earlier given the Railwaymen a first-half lead.
Llandyrnog United 3 Blaenau Ffestiniog Amateurs 3
A disappointing result for Dyrny after they had taken a two-goal lead inside half an hour through David Lawson-Cooke and Osian Audley.
Joe Dukes-Morgan halved the deficit before the break.
Lawson-Cooke made it 3-1 from the penalty spot on 63, but goals from Blaenau’s Jack Diamond and Ceri Roberts rescued an away point.
CPD Llannefydd 5 CPD Cerrigydrudion 1
The returning Jack Davies, who recently rejoined Llannefydd from CPD Y Rhyl 1879, struck twice to help earn the home side a 5-1 verdict.
Llion Morris, Nico Clwyd and Simon Roberts were also on target for the hosts, Ilan Roberts replying.
CPD Llansannan 1 Penmaenmawr Phoenix 5
Ricky Jones was a hat-trick star for a Phoenix team which romped to victory at Llansannan.
Alfie Caldecott and Ian Pattinson added singles for the visitors, Adam Gage with the only home net-finder.
Mochdre Sports 4 Llanfairfechan Town 1
A good win for Mochdre, who had Llanfairfechan all at sea following goals from Ben Evans, Josh Grimshaw, Anuar Seilkhanov and Chris Lloyd.
Jamie Haggas responded late on for Llanfairfechan when they were 3-0 down.
COOKSON CUP
QUARTER-FINAL
Rhuddlan Town 3 (Merner 3)
Prestatyn Sports 5 (J Hughes, Griffiths 2, 1 pen, Hall, Jacovelli)
(after extra time, 90 mins 3-3)
A classic cup-tie which neither team deserved to lose – that was the general feeling from both camps and many neutrals after Prestatyn Sports progressed to the Cookson Cup semi-finals at Rhuddlan Town’s expense.
Sports will now visit neighbours Meliden at The Mine this Saturday for the right to take on St Asaph City in the final.
Saturday’s clash at Pengwern College saw Andy Merner give Rhuddlan a 17th minute lead.
Sports had a chance to equalise from the penalty spot, but Andrew Symonds saved Ian Griffiths’ kick.
Half-time: Rhuddlan Town 1 Prestatyn Sports 0
After a productive team-talk at half time Sports came out of the traps twice as hungry and took just three minutes to find the equaliser, Jared Hughes popping up on the back post to slot home having just come on as a substitute.
Sports won another penalty three minutes later and this time Griffiths made no mistake.
Rhuddlan showed their character and regrouped, Merner striking again to make it 2-2 on 67 minutes.
Five minutes later, Sports were back ahead, Alex Hall first to pounce on a cross into the box with a great finish.
Town were not finished and Merner completed his hat trick from a corner on 78 minutes.
A late penalty gave Rhuddlan the chance to win the game, but Andrew Billington brilliantly kept out Merner’s kick with his knee.
Extra time was needed and with tired legs all round Antonio Jacovelli managed to scramble the ball over the line to make it 4-3 early in the first period.
Both teams gave it their all, but with three minutes left in the second period, sub Chris Kelly played in Griffiths, who calmly slotted in the decider.
SEMI-FINAL
CPD Bro Cernyw 1 St Asaph City 2
Ryan Potts bagged a 78th minute decider to put Saints through to the final.
Ray Knight’s third-minute goal gave Asaph a half-time lead, but a John Gardner penalty levelled it seven minutes into the second period.
Bro put in a great effort, but the visitors had the answer to clinch the tie through Potts.