Welsh Cup shock: Rhyl 1879 lose on penalties to tier 4 underdogs Menai Bridge

JD WELSH CUP ROUND ONE

CPD Y Rhyl 1879 1 Menai Bridge Tigers 1 (Tigers won 7-6 on pens)

Tier 4 underdogs Menai Bridge caused the Welsh Cup upset of the weekend as they knocked Tier 3 high-flyers Rhyl 1879 out of the competition on penalties.

It was back-to-back cup woe for the Lilywhites, who were eliminated from the Ardal Northern League Cup at Llay Welfare the previous weekend.

Rhyl dictated large parts of the first half at Belle Vue on Saturday, but were unable to break the deadlock, Kieran Ellis missing the clearest chance.

The second half was a story of more fluffed home opportunities which would ultimately cost them.

Menai Bridge were awarded a penalty following a challenge in the box by Miles Todd, only for Craig Roberts to miss from the spot.

In the 75th minute Rhyl took the lead when Alex Jones drilled across the six-yard box for Ellis to find the back of the net.

Jones missed two openings to put the tie to bed before in the 92nd minute the Anglesey outfit found the leveller, Callum Davidson setting up Lewis Clayton to calmly head home.

The final whistle was blown and for the first time in their new club’s history, 1879 would participate in a penalty shootout.

After 10 successful penalties it went to sudden death and with the score at 7-6 in favour of the Bridge, visiting keeper Dion Lewis heroically kept out Elliot Evans’ kick to win the tie.