Report: Gavin Billington
New Corwen boss Jamie Hulse and his management team got off a winning start at the expense of plucky hosts Caerwys in the Welsh Cup.
Both sides are in the tier 4 North East Wales League Premier Division this season, Corwen having been relegated from Ardal North East and Caerwys promoted from the tier 5 Championship Division, where they emerged unbeaten, but finished runners-up to Ruabon Rovers.
Early on in Saturday’s clash at Lon-yr-Ysgol, Corwen captain Scott Evans curled a free kick which forced goalkeeper Jaedon Murie into a fine save.
The deadlock was broken with eight minutes on the clock, as Tom Williams went for goal from outside the penalty area, his effort caught the wind and looped up and over the Caerwys number one.
On 20 minutes, a shot from new Caerwys signing Brandon Jones sailed through the air and rippled the net, but unfortunately for him it was the wrong side of the Corwen bag.
The visitors were two goals to the good in the 28th minute, when Oliver Crimp launched the ball forward from way out and saw it hit the post. The long ball took everyone by surprise, apart from Owen Cordiner, who collected from the rebound and slotted home.
After the interval the home side looked to find a way back into the game, as Kieron Day ran with the ball before striking an edge of the box shot at goal, which brought a good save out of Evan Parry.
The hosts halved the deficit just before the hour mark, as an attack came to fruition when Matthew Gilsenan placed the ball beyond Parry from the edge of the box.
In the closing stages, Gilsenan went for goal from a 20-yard free kick, which Parry tipped over the bar.
A couple of minutes later Robbie Williams looked to seal victory but was denied by Murie.
In the sixth minute of stoppage time Corwen were given a golden opportunity to rubber stamp the win as they were awarded a penalty which Scott Evans converted.
A hard fought cup tie saw Mynydd Isa make it through to the next round.
A well-taken first half penalty from skipper Sam Wainwright put the visitors one-up at the break before Sam Riley added to his own personal goal of the season competition with an outstanding left foot volley 25 yards out that flew past the Town keeper.
The hosts made it a nervy last 10 minutes with a smart header into the bottom corner from Andy Speed, but the visitors saw the game out.
Shout-out to Karl Billingsley in goal for Isa. An outstanding MOTM performance for his first half penalty save and a spectacular stop towards the end of the game.
Andy Vale, substitute Joise Fernandes and Isaac Dawson shared the goals in a home triumph for Gareth Wilson’s Brickfield.
Just one goal separated the sides at Stansty Park, Benjamin Wilson netting in the 54th minute from a Jake Hayward assist.
Tier 4 Coedpoeth put up a really good battle against opponents from higher-ranked Ardal North East,
A real thriller ended with the home side edging through on penalties.
In a true topsy-turvy contest between North East Wales League Premier Division sides, Ryan Jones, Sam Edwards, John Newton and Ethan Evans, with an 86th minute leveller, registered for the hosts, while Ben Bailey, Nathan Davies, Luca Nardo and sub Daniel Woosey were on the mark for Colts.
One of the games of the day produced a narrow home win for tier 3 Penycae over Rhostyllen from the league below.
Austin Owen set the ball rolling by giving the hosts a second-minute lead.
Jack Brindley made it 1-1 on 26, but soon after Harry Killick put away Pen’s second.
It remained 2-1 until the 75th minute, when Alex Rowlands found the net for the home team.
Rhostyllen were not finished, replying quickly through Matty Tombs, but it looked all over when Callum Dutton made it 4-2 deep into added time.
The visitors kept going and Ben Duffy reduced the deficit again, but that was the end of the scoring.
Gareth Jones will have been more than satisfied that his debut competitive game as Rhos Aelwyd manager ended in a 5-1 Welsh Cup victory.
The game started with Rhos showing their quality on the ball and retaining possession well. Rhos got the breakthrough early on when Scott Reeves calmly crossed the ball into James Rumsey, who slid in to make it 1-0.
Soon after, the home side’s Evan Woodall, on his competitive debut, slotted home from close range.
Overton responded and hit Rhos on the counter, Harry Massey beating Garyn Williams in goal to make it 2-1.
Rhos looked for a reaction, but struggled to make a breakthrough. However, on the stroke of half time, Rumsey set up Aled Parry on the edge of the box where he placed the ball home to make it 3-1.
Into the second half, where Rhos had plenty of chances but initially failed to convert.
However, in the 70th minute, great work from Tom Smith on the left flank led to him laying off the ball to Aled Bayley. who hit a driven shot into the bottom corner.
Late on, Declan Molyneux delivered a great ball from a free kick which saw Ryan Jenkins rise above everyone else in the box to head home to make it 5-1.
Manager Jones said: “A job well done from the lads today, professional and composed and we look forward to next round of the cup.”
It was Gronant’s day at the Mornflake Mighty Oats Ground, where revived Rhydymwyn were the hosts.
This all-North East Wales League Championship tussle saw Steve Kirk put Sandy Malone’s visitors in front before Nathan Williams equalised on 21 minutes.
New signing Kallum Pierce edged Gronant back ahead before the break.
In the second half, sub Dylan Taylor and Kirk fired the away team out of sight.
James Ratcliffe led the charge with a hat-trick as strong favourites Hawarden from tier 3 Ardal North West eliminated tier 5 newcomers Yr Wyddgrug.
Josh Robertson (2), Rhys Hewitt, James Evans, Dan Flanders, Ashley Hughes, captain Ellis Jones and Jack Williams made up the rest for Rangers.
James McGlone notched the home side’s consolation goal.
ADRAN PREMIER TOP SCORER: Katie Barker (Wrexham) 25 goals Record-breaking Wrexham AFC Women striker Katie…
Action from Gaerwen v Holyhead Town on Wednesday. Picture: CPD Gaerwen - diolch NORTH WALES…
George Peers (dark blue) is about to make it 2-0 to Airbus. Picture: NIK MESNEY…
The amazing Katie Barker - 29 goals in 2025-26 So few games played of late,…
Tom Hilditch of Trearddur Bay Trearddur Bay's Tom Hilditch has not stopped scoring goals all…
One short of 50 - magical Harry Massey Overton Recreational frontman Harry Massey leads the…