What is it about Mark Roberts and the Welsh Cup?
Six years ago, he scored EIGHT goals in a single tie for Llandyrnog United in a 12-3 win at Blaenau Amateurs.
Then on Saturday, the returning marvel, who recently came out of retirement, netted a THREE-MINUTE HAT-TRICK as his new club CPD Y Rhyl 1879 progressed to the first round proper with a 3-1 success over Llangollen Town at Belle Vue.
It was a game of two halves as the hosts started slowly and fell behind to Kristian Jones’ strike from outside the area.
A change in personnel and approach to the game at the interval swung things back the way of 1879 and Roberts stole the headlines with three goals in as many minutes.
However, the Lilywhites made the worst possible start as Ardal North East visitors Llangollen took an early lead after the hosts failed to close down Jones and he found the net from 20 yards.
For a large portion of the first half, Rhyl appeared hesitant in front of goal, although Oli Buckley rattled the post, while Chris Bennett and Dan Sim had decent opportunities with the latter being first to test the Llangollen keeper.
At half-time, home manager Gareth Thomas decided the team needed freshening up and Sim, Ollie Staveley and Macauley Taylor all made way for Sam Ashton on his Rhyl debut, Aaron White and James Cairns respectively.
The changes appeared to do the trick and a reinvigorated Lilywhites side began the second half well as Alex Jones cracked the crossbar with an outrageous long-range strike and Ashton brought a good save out of Ricky Bennett in the Llangollen goal.
On 52 minutes it was time for veteran striker Roberts to steal the show after White broke into the opposition area and pulled it back for the forward to lash home 1879’s equaliser .
Within a minute, Robbo had given his side the lead after receiving the ball in the area with his back to goal, turning and then finding the bottom corner with an accurate strike.
The 37-year-old then completed a remarkable three-minute hat-trick when Cairns was slipped in down the right and played it across the goal for Roberts to tap into an empty net.
Rhyl had further chances, but had to settle for 3-1.
Star striker Meilir Williams was a hat-trick hero for a Llanuwchllyn side which triumphed 5-2 at Lon Bach.
John Evans and Garmon Hafal also struck for the Ardal North East visitors, Chris Byast bagging both for Amlwch
Jac Pearce Jones’ seventh minute goal gave underdgos Talysarn a surprise half time lead at Y Morfa, but Conwy rallied in the second period to take the win thanks to strikes from Anthony Marshall and a late decider from Tom Paddock.
Dylan Williams (2) and Darren Lewthwaite shared the goals which sent Anglesey hosts Glantraeth into the next stage.
Junction needed spot-kicks to see off tier 5 battlers Holyhead. This match was reported on in detail by Grassroots North Wales on Saturday.
Leon Doran’s double sent Llanrwst into the first round proper, Casey Boylan replying for tier 5 outsiders Boded. A more detailed report was run by Grassroots North Wales on Saturday.
Second half goals from Tom McMorine and skipper Alex Jones booked Hotspur’s passage to the next round.
It proved tough going at times for the tier 3 favourites against visitors from tier 5. Llysfaen more than held their own and had chances to score in the first half.
Callum Graves (2), Darren Gowans, Tom Parry, Craig Roberts and Dean Redmond combined to produce the six goals which delivered an emphatic victory for the Bridge.
Reece Evans and Gwion Davies replied for the visitors.
Sports squeezed through on penalties against lower-level opponents who led until the 85th minute.
This match was covered in greater depth by Grassroots North Wales on Saturday.
In four of their first five matches of this season, Ardal North West leaders Nantlle Vale have scored four goals.
Now unbeaten in six outings since the start of 2023-24, Vale got past the spirited effort of tier 4 hopefuls Nefyn in the Welsh Cup on Saturday.
Ashley Owen, Cai Parry and Harri Hughes all struck in the first half to give Nantlle a 3-0 interval lead.
Nefyn caused a few flutters in the home camp by reducing the deficit to 3-2 with goals from Ifan Jones (penalty) on 79 minutes and sub Elgan Jones after 82.
Vale were glad to see Aled Williams restore their two-goal cushion in the 87th.
Carl Jones and Josua Jones both found the net in the first 15 minutes of the second half to secure a good win over very capable opponents.
A potential banana skin was efficiently dealt with by Felinheli, goals from Tomos Davies, Iwan Owen and substitute Guto Hughes seeing them into round one at Llanberis’ expense.
Scorers Jordan Johnson, Dion Gibbins and Callum Mannion put Albion out of sight in this all-tier 3 tie at Clwyedog Park.
The only damper on the day for the home side was a 76th minute red card for Nic Jones.
The only second qualifying round tie which saw lower league opponents beat someone from a higher standard happened at the War Memorial Park.
Corwen, a tier 3 side last season who are now in the North East Wales League Premier, edged past an in-form Llay from the Ardal North West.
Owen Cordiner, Matthew Williams and Robbie Williams all found the net in the first half to give the hosts a three-goal advantage.
Jon Collo hit back for Llay in the 50th minute, but it was not long before Cordiner made it 4-1 to Jamie Hulse’s men.
A Cavan Daley double, the latter goal in the 95th minute, gave Welfare hope, but Corwen held on to advance.
Gareth Rhodri Jones’ men progressed to the first round of the JD Welsh Cup after a ruthless first half performance away at Greenfield.
Man of the Match Aled Parry began the onslaught within five minutes of the start, followed by a Scott Reeves penalty, who then added his second on the stroke of half time.
Parry doubled his tally in the second half with Evan Woodall and Tom Smith going close.
It went to spot-kicks in this all-tier 4 tussle at Argoed Sports and Social Club where Cerrig squeezed through.
Thomas Mitchell nudged Isa in front on 40, but Jac Edwards made it all-square after 54.
Mynydd led again through a 69th minute Sam Wainwright penalty, but Tomos Tryfan Jones made it 2-2 on 81.
Cerrig won the shoot-out 5-4.
Comfortable for NFA with James Stead, Antonio Jacovelli (2) and Jordan Bellham splitting the goals, Nathan Rose replying.
A great effort from tier 5 Gronant at Penycae from two leagues above, but the Wrexham area hosts made it through.
Zac Davies (28 minutes) and Alex Rowlands (72) put the Ardal North East side in the driving seat before Dylan Taylor halved the deficit in added time.
The scoreline does not tell the whole story as Rhuddlan from tier 4 held their T3 opponents to 0-0 at half time.
Town have a number of new players bedding in, but in that opening half they showed real fight and togetherness and could have led at the break.
Cole Shone, 18, was outstanding stepping in as a centre-back with Harvey Gordon alongside him, while winger Isaac Hall excelled.
Brickfield took charge in the second half, Jay Richardson, aged just 17, scoring a super hat-trick, while Kiran Russell added a pair.
James Williams (2), Alfie Vaughan (2), Kieran Garnett-Hughes (2) and a Michael Bellis own goal made up the seven for a St Asaph side who were expected to win comfortably against opposition from two levels below.
Saints also had subs Josh Brown and Garnett-Hughes red-carded in the latter stages.
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