Cymru North WBS League Cup – some surprising results in opening round

Welsh Blood Service Cymru North League Cup

Buckley Town 2 (Littler 62, Cant 90+4)
Denbigh Town 6 (Weir 49 & 90+1, Hansen 55, Lock 57, 68 & 90+6)

Report: Ollie Williams
Pictures: Roy Gunther/Stephen Whitfield

Having lost 3-0 at Buckley in the Nathaniel MG Cup last month, Denbigh exacted sweet revenge with a 6-2 victory at The Globe in the Cymru North League Cup on Saturday.

After a blank first half, the goals flowed after the break with star of the show the visiting side’s Josh Lock with a hat-trick.

Lock, 19, making his full debut after signing on loan from TNS, grabbed three, whilst a Tom Weir brace and Olly Hansen effort put Buckley to the sword.

A number of changes were made to the side that won 1-0 at Chirk on Monday with Lock starting, Matthew Worrall making his return from injury, Ryan Kershaw re-joining the starting XI and Hansen also coming into the team.

Denbigh were in control throughout, but Buckley did have a chance after just seven minutes with a scramble in the box denied by goalkeeper Aaron Jones before being spilled, and Craig Pritchard had to clear.

Though Denbigh had the lion’s share of the ball, opportunities were limited in the first half and each side went into the break without a goal.

Half-Time: 0-0

The second half started with a bang as Dewi Llion’s side opened the scoring. Weir picked the ball up on the right of the box following a run from Pritchard to drill home into the bottom left corner to put the visitors in front.

Six minutes later the lead was doubled, as Hansen broke down the left, crossed for Worrall who could only direct it back to Hansen to finish from close range.

Without any time to breathe it was three just seconds later as Lock raced through to finish calmly and dispatch the ball into the bottom right of the Bucks goal.

Buckley knew they had to make changes and introduced Connor Littler on the hour mark. Two minutes later Littler side-footed the ball home from a corner unmarked.

Denbigh also made changes of their own introducing Jake Walker, Harry Lockley and Paul Fleming before giving the nod to Nathan Brown, who made his 50th appearance for the club in all competitions. There was also a welcome return for Billy Holmes.

With 22 minutes remaining Denbigh were out of sight when Lock finished well following a threaded pass from Hansen for his brace.

The board went up for stoppage time as six were added but there was still time for three more goals. First of all Weir made it a double when a corner came in, struck the post before he followed up to finish, whilst Buckley responded via Laurence Cant.

With 96 minutes on the clock the ball fell to Lock inside the box who lobbed the goalkeeper with grace to make it a sensational hat-trick and see Town into the second round.

Bangor 1876 1 (Blackwell-Jones 87)
Guilsfield 2 (Hyne 29, Knott 72)

A disappointing third straight defeat for 1876, this latest reverse leaving them eliminated from the WBS League Cup.

The breakthrough goal came in the 29th minute when Guilsfield’s Jamie Hyne ran into the area with the ball, calmly passed keeper Huw Shaw then scored from a tight angle,

Joe Sullivan hit the post for the home side before 1876 had a golden chance to score an equaliser when the referee awarded them a penalty in the 65th minute but Corrig McGonigle’s shot was well saved by Robbie Williams in the away goal.

Guilsfileld also continued to attack and scored their second goal in the 72nd minute, Adam Knott finishing from close range.

1876 brought on Mason Blackwell Jones, who joined the day before from Denbigh Town, for his debut and he almost created a goal with his first significant touch. Liam Morris then had a shot well saved by Williams.

Blackwell Jones did grab one back three minutes from time, but it was not enough to save the hosts.

Llandudno 1 (Bennett)
Chirk AAA 0

Harvey Bennett scored the all-important early goal which secured Llandudno their first win of the season.

Bennett pressured Chirk keeper Ollie Farebrother, managed to nick the ball and found the back of the net to break the deadlock at Y Morfa.

The visitors may feel unfortunate to have lost the game, having struck the woodwork and forced keeper Joe Angus into some great stops.

At the other end, Farebrother was forced into a great finger-tip save to deny Danny Holland.

Airbus UK Broughton 3 (Palmer 49, Baker 73, Tomassen 90+2)
Flint Town United 4 (Kavanagh 11, Brindley-Peagram 61, Akpa-Akpro 70, J Jones 75)

Report: Nigel Sheen (Flint)

Flint progressed to the second round of the WBS League Cup by inflicting a first defeat of the season on Airbus.

The Silkmen always looked in control, but the dogged Wingmakers stayed in the contest and pushed them all the way.

Flint struck the opening goal on 11 minutes through Rhys Kavanagh, with an excellent 20-yard chip over keeper Keighan Jones.

Joe Beswick, making his debut in goal for the visitors, was called upon just after the half hour to make a smart save from Jake Eyre.

Flint went into the break with a well-deserved advantage, but were caught napping four minutes into the second period when Joe Palmer equalised at the back post from a corner.

The Wingmakers then had a couple of further chances to go into the lead. First Palmer forced Beswick into an excellent save, then Eyre dragged his shot wide of the target.

The away side made the most of this let-off and re-established the lead through Harley Brindley-Peagram.

Anthony Stephens played the ball out to Joe Williams, who controlled beautifully, before guiding it into the path of Jake Phillips. He squared the ball to the advancing Brindley-Peagram who netted his fourth of the season.

Shortly after, substitute Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro was introduced into the action. On 70 minutes, he broke through to round keeper Jones to make it 3-1.

But the comfortable two-goal cushion was short lived, as after 73, Airbus responded as Sam Baker got in behind the Flint defence to reduce the deficit.

Flint went down the other end and scored to make it 4-2 on 75 minutes. Akpa-Akpro the provider this time, Josh Jones the scorer.

Just as Flint thought they were home and hosed, Airbus struck again in added time through skipper Steve Tomassen to bring it back to 4-3, but there was no further drama.

Gresford Athletic 1 Prestatyn Town 4

A ruthless display from Prestatyn as they made it back-to-back 4-1 wins on the road.

Following a league success by that score at Bangor 1876 on Monday, five days later Chris Jones’ side proved far too sharp for Gresford in the WBS League Cup.

All the goals came in the first half at The Rock, Tom Hilditch, Dean Davies, Dan Atkins and Karl Clair netting for Town, while Joe Chaplin responded for Athletic, who had Charley Edge sent off for a second yellow card on 65 minutes.

Llanidloes Town 2 Caersws 1

Another surprise scoreline in the cup as goals from Jack Orbell and Elliot Jones, with a 95th minute decider, seeing Llanidloes through at the expense of Caersws, who replied through Rhys Hesden on 65,

Mold Alexandra 3 Holywell Town 2

While they have been exceptional in the league so far, Holywell exited a cup at the first hurdle for a second time this season.

Mold gained revenge over the Wellmen for a 3-0 loss in the Cymru North five days earlier by knocking Johnny Haseldin’s men out of the WBS League Cup at Alyn Park.

Sam Duffy, Joe Ormrod and Danny Warren, with a 61st minute decider, were on target for Alex, Danny Andrews and Jake Cooke hitting back for Holywell on 50 and 52.

Danny Sullivan was shown a straight red for Town after 38 minutes, while team-mate Luke Wiltshire was also dismissed on 70.

Mold’s Ryan Coney received his marching orders with 63 on the clock.

Porthmadog 1 Ruthin Town 3

Three first-half goals set up Ruthin for a great away victory.

Llyr Morris and Soulayman El Amri both scored within the first six minutes for the visitors, who had a few key players missing.

Morris added a third on 33 minutes and although Danny Brookwell pulled one back for Port after 75, it was the visitors who deservedly advanced to the next stage.