Nathaniel MG Cup: Gresford, Buckley, Colwyn Bay and The New Saints all progress
NATHANIEL MG CUP ROUND TWO REPORTS – AUGUST 5
Bangor 1876 0 Gresford Athletic 3
Report: Glynne Roberts
Three second-half goals clinched Gresford a somewhat unexpected victory at Nantporth, given 1876 had begun their season with impressive victories against Holywell and Llanidloes.
The hosts were first to seriously threaten when Corrig McGonigle’s shot was parried out by Athletic keeper Michael Jones, who then blocked Gethin Thomas’ follow-up. Thomas’ second attempt then came back off the goalpost.
In the 17th minute, Joe Culshaw was adjudged to have brought down Gresford’s Haci Ozlu in the box – penalty.
Carl Jones, playing his first competitive game of the season in goal for 1876, superbly palmed Dominic Deacon’s penalty away for a corner.
Jones is surely the premier penalty-saver in North Wales football, having kept out three spot-kicks for Ynys Môn in the recent Island Games..
Gresford now started to dominate, with both Ozlu and Toby Keenan thwarted by Carl Jones.
Half-time arrived with a 0-0 scoreline.
An interval substitution by Bangor saw Sam Jones coming on for Harry Galeotti, but the match followed much the same pattern as the first 45 minutes, with Gresford creating the better chances.
The almost inevitable breakthrough came after 51 minutes, when Carl Jones punched clear, only for the ball to fall to Charley Edge, who fired home from 18 yards to put Gresford ahead.
This was no more than Eddie Maurice-Jones’ side deserved, and they followed this up with two further chances which were cleared off the line.
On 70 minutes, Sam Jones attempted to bring Bangor back into the game, but after a promising move, his shot only found the side-netting.
In the 73rd minute, Gresford managed to score their second goal through Sam Spridgeon.
Soon after, 1876 substitute Cameron Barry slipped in midfield, allowing the ever-dangerous Ozlu to evade the remaining Bangor defenders to strike a calmly-taken shot beyond the despairing dive of Jones.
Buckley Town 3 Denbigh Town 0
Report: Ollie Williams
Asa Hamilton’s brace and a superb strike from Liam Driscoll saw the home side through as the rain lashed down in Flintshire.
It also ended a run of exactly 365 days since Town last failed to score in a match – a streak that comprised 38 consecutive matches.
Denbigh began the game on top and forced goalkeeper Ryan Goldston into a save after just three minutes when Nathan Brown’s free-kick was tipped over.
The torrential rain had a real effect on the game, Buckley needing 12 minutes to have a chance at goal when Jake Roberts was denied by Aaron Jones.
On 20 minutes, Driscoll was foiled by a superb stop from Jones.
A corner initially cleared saw the ball fizzed across goal where an outstretched Craig Pritchard for Denbigh could only turn it wide. Half-time: 0-0.
Just before the hour, Denbigh’s Billy Holmes fouled his man in the box, presenting Hamilton the chance from the spot, which he duly converted.
Two minutes later it was 2-0. Driscoll took possession in midfield and leathered the ball into the top right corner.
Denbigh continued to be a threat down the right with Pritchard again forcing the keeper into a solid stop, but with 10 minutes left, Hamilton grabbed his second and Buckley’s third when he forced home after a scramble in the box.
Colwyn Bay 5 Airbus UK Broughton 0
Report: Colwyn Bay FC
Bay produced a fine performance to open the 2023/24 season by sweeping into the last 16 of the Nathaniel MG Cup with a 5-0 home win over Airbus UK Broughton.
Airbus went close early on when Jake Eyre hit the bar from 25 yards, but they rarely threatened after that, and after their new keeper Keighan Jones saved well from Tom Creamer, the Bay took the lead on 13 minutes when good play by Sam Turner set up Matty Hill for the opening goal.
Turner then scored a second on 28 minutes from Dylan Allshorn’s assist.
New Bay keeper, ex-Chester stopper Joe Smith, made a good save from George Peers just before half-time.
The Seagulls made a great start to the second half when Nick Rushton scored from the edge of the box on 47 minutes.
The hosts continued to dominate possession with Jones saving from Hill and Bay twice hitting the bar in the space of a minute – Hill first and then substitute Stef Edwards.
In the last 10 minutes Airbus had Ryan McManus red carded for bringing down Lloyd Marsh-Hughes when he was through on goal and Bay capitalised with two more goals.
Ryan Edwards made it 4-0 from Turner’s cross, and Marsh-Hughes got number five after running clear to shoot through the keeper’s legs.
The New Saints 2 Connah’s Quay Nomads 1
Saints and Nomads met in round two for the second year in succession, with Neil Gibson’s side hoping to repeat their victory of 12 months ago which set them on the way to the final.
But while Callum Bratley gave the visitors the lead at Park Hall, Jordan Williams and Josh Daniels found the net to turn the game around and send the JD Cymru Premier champions through – ending the Nomads’ journey in this competition before the semi-finals for the first time in nine years.