Welsh Cup: Junction need spot-kicks to see off battling Harbourmen

JD WELSH CUP QUALIFYING ROUND 2

Holyhead Town 1 (Queen 41)
Llandudno Junction 1 (Montgomery 23)
(Junction won 4-3 penalties)

Tier 4 favourites Junction needed penalties to finally see off the brave challenge of determined underdogs Holyhead at Millbank.

North Wales Coast West Division One hopefuls Town played against the strong wind in the first period and were pretty much camped in their own half throughout.

The Harbourmen’s tactics and work-rate frustrated the visitors for most of the half, mainly restricting the opposition to shots from range, with only one notable strike on target which goalkeeper Ethan Andrews brilliantly saved.

The tier 5 hosts had a few quick counter-attacks of their own in a very competitive first quarter of the game.

However, Junction finally broke the deadlock on 23 minutes after countering a Holyhead break with a good move seeing Adam Montgomery slot home to make it 1-0.

There was no question of Town losing heart or letting heads drop and they took the game to the Railwaymen, resulting in workhorse Andy Will winning a free kick just outside the left-side of the penalty area.

Teenager Callum Queen’s strike took a deflection on route to the back of the net, putting Holyhead Town level at 1-1 on 41 minutes.

It was the 17-year-old’s fourth goal of the season in as many games.

The second half saw Holyhead having a lot more possession and creating chances, but not many opportunities were clear cut for either side.

Striker Craig Moore almost won the match in the 85th minute but poked his shot narrowly wide of the left post under a lot of pressure.

And so it went to the dreaded penalty shoot out which Junction shaded to enter the bag for the next round.

TEAMS

HOLYHEAD TOWN

Ethan Andrews
Mathew Griffin
Charlie Diamond
Dan Mowbray
Paul Williams (c)
Callum Queen
Tony Meyer
Matty Rowlands
Andy Will
Craig Moore
Luke Roberts
SUBS USED
Mike Jones
Glenn North
Ash Beck

LLANDUDNO JUNCTION

Stephen O’Neill
George Roberts
Adam Williams
Chris Morris
Kieran Edwards
Dan Prince
Harri Jones
Robert Gore
Jack Nettleton
Adam Montgomery
Tomos Rhys-Williams
SUBS USED
James Kane
Matthew Roberts