Football

Hat-trick by Connor the Honour seals Gwalchmai glory in Premier Division Cup Final!

Meet the 2022-23 Premier Division Cup winners – CPD Gwalchmai. ALL PHOTOS: DAI SINCLAIR – huge thanks for everything this season Dai

ERYRI CONSULTING NORTH WALES COAST WEST LEAGUE

CWPAN SNOWDONIA FIRE AND SECURITY CUP FINAL

Gwalchmai 3 (C Owen 39, 46, 89 pen)
Talysarn Celts 2 (Worth 9, A Jones 86)

What a way for Gwalchmai sensation Connor Owen to finish the season!

A hat-trick to win a cup final and the decisive penalty a minute from time.

Owen’s heroics sealed Gwalchmai their first honour since 2017-18, when goals from Craig Evans and Corey Sinnott secured the Maes Meurig men the Gwynedd Safeflue Shield with a 2-1 extra time victory over Nefyn United.

Their current star striker truly is Connor the Honour!

Gwalchmai’s young supporters truly enjoyed the day

It was always going to be a close-fought final at Maes Eilian, Llanfairpwll, between two sides competing for a cup won for the first time by Bangor 1876 last season.

Talysarn made a dream start when Iestyn Worth put them ahead in the ninth minute, assisted by Dylan Hughes.

Gwalchmai levelled in the 39th minute when a Marc Evans flick on released Owen who finished calmly past keeper Peter Bridges into the bottom right.

Connor Owen (10) celebrates a goal with Gwalchmai supporters

Half time 1-1, but a minute into the second period the Anglesey team were in front.

Owen chested the ball down and volleyed across the keeper into the bottom left of the goal.

As the game wore on, Celts introduced a series of substitutions in an attempt to get back into the final.

It worked in the 86th minute when sub Aled Jones made it 2-2 after being set up by Hughes.

However, there was to be one final twist.

Referee Carl Hagan, excellent on the day, has a chat with Connor Owen and Marc Evans (far left)

One of the greatest talents to shine in North Wales football this season, 18-year-old Connor Owen, drilled home left-footed an 89th minute spot kick awarded for a foul on sub Llion Vaughan Jones.

It was the 39th goal of the season from just 35 games for the teenager – absolutely sensational.

He also made it five hat-tricks in 2022-23 with that cup-winning penalty and six goals in all in the Snowdonia Fire and Security Premier Division Cup.

Gwalchmai goalkeeper Caron Hughes shows good composure

So in the end a tremendous way for Gwalchmai to round off the season.

Minus 26-goal top-scorer Luke Baum on the day, Talysarn gave it a real go and can look back on a good season where they finished fourth in the league. Celts never give it less than 100 percent.

TEAMS

GWALCHMAI

The apprentice and the master. Goal machine Connor Owen with former Gwalchmai player and manager Paul Owen, who led the team to a treble in 2009-10

Caron Hughes
Sam Jones
Gethin Jones
Darren Roberts
Lewis Owen
Declan Jones
Chris Bennett
Josh Owen
Marc Evans
Connor Owen
Gwion Thomas
SUBS
Ryan Berry
Kenny Hughes
Craig Evans
Llion Vaughan Jones
N/A

TALYSARN CELTS

Peter Bridges
Llion Jones
Sion Pollard
Joshua Williams
Iestyn Worth
Dylan Hughes
Gareth Jones
Glyn Hughes-Thomas
Rhodri Jones
Tirion Roberts
Jack Usher
SUBS
Rhys Jones
Tomos Williams
Meilyr Povey
David Aaron Jones
Aled Jones

GWALCHMAI – HOW THE CUP WAS WON

Two Gwalchmai legends in every sense of the word – Wil Williams (left) and Paul Owen (Skin)

Mar 4: CPD Llanberis (a) 1-0 (C Owen)
Apr 1: CPD Aberffraw (a) 3-1 (C Bennett, M Evans, G Jones)
May 13: Glantraeth (SF – a) 2-2 (C Owen 2 pens) – won 4-3 on pens
May 27: Talysarn Celts (N) 3-2 (C Owen 3, 1 pen)