Double joy two days apart for roaring Tigers

NORTH WALES COAST WEST PREMIER DIVISION

Menai Bridge Tigers 4 (Hogan 1, Graves 32 & 90, Owens 90+3)
Nefyn United 3 (D Jones pen 23, R Williams 31, C Griffiths 85)

Where else in North Wales football is life as exciting as it is at Menai Bridge Tigers right now?

On Saturday, the Tigers achieved one of their greatest results when they knocked CPD Y Rhyl 1879 out of the Welsh Cup on penalties at Belle Vue.

Then just two days later they were given a league fixture at home to leaders Nefyn United which they won 4-3 with two decisive goals past the 90-minute mark.

And tomorrow, comes the thrill of discovering who the Anglesey side get in the next round of the Welsh Cup, when the Cymru Premier side enter the competition.

It was certainly a thrilling match at Treborth on Monday night in the North Wales Coast West Premier.

Menai went into the game on a high after Saturday’s penalty shootout win over Rhyl.

Nefyn were also confident having started their league campaign perfectly with 4 wins from 4, and the away side also had the upper hand in recent clashes having won 6 and drawn 2 of the last 8 matches between the sides.

It was a perfect start for the home side with a goal inside the first minute.

A long ball from goalkeeper Dion Lewis was chested down by Craig Roberts to Lewis Clayton, who lifted the ball over the defence for Sion Hogan. The Tigers captain smashed a sumptuous left-foot volley into the top corner to open the scoring – a goal the great Marco Van Basten would have been proud of.

The scores were levelled after 23 minutes when Lewis felled Steven Jones in the area. Dylan Sion Jones stepped up to take the spot-kick, rolling the ball down the middle to make it 1-1.

The away side took the lead on 31 minutes. Rhys Williams shoulder-barged Paul Rowlands off the ball before lobbing a stranded Lewis from a tight angle.

Tigers responded instantly however, equalising within 90 seconds. Jamie Ryan Jones’ cross into the area bounced into the path of Callum Graves, who drilled the ball home from 12 yards.

The next hour of football saw both sides enjoy several chances but the score remained at 2-2 until the 85th minute.

Nefyn were awarded a free-kick 30 yards out, Carwyn Griffiths finding the back of the net.

Tigers did not give up however, and equalised in the final minute of normal time with Graves firing a free-kick through a crowd of bodies and past Tristan Harrison.

The home side pushed for a winner and in the 93rd minute Callum Davidson found space in the area to float a cross to the back post. Substitute and new signing Leon Owens met the cross with a downward header past the flailing boot of a Nefyn defender, to rapturous celebrations from the Menai Bridge players and bench.

A tense finale ensued as 8 minutes of injury time were played in total, but Menai Bridge were able to withstand the Nefyn attacks to hold out for a thrilling 4-3 victory.