Round-up of all remaining Welsh Cup round two northern ties

WELSH CUP SECOND ROUND – OCTOBER 14, 2023

St Asaph City 0
Prestatyn Town 1 (Atkins 10)

Prestatyn’s perfect record under new player-manager Karl Clair continued as they made it three straight wins with Saturday’s Welsh Cup success at Roe Plas Meadows.

This was one of those ties which offered the hint of an upset, with St Asaph City going really well in Tier 3 Ardal North West, but despite giving it everything for the cause, the home side could not prevent their Tier 2 Cymru North visitors advancing to the last 32.

New boss Clair kicked off his reign with a magnificent Nathaniel MG Cup victory over Cymru Premier side Colwyn Bay, followed by a 4-2 league triumph over Buckley last weekend.

St Asaph were expected to present a stern test for the Seasiders and so it proved.

In a lively start, the away side took a 10th minute lead.

Tyler Magee did really well to outrun a defender and deliver across the box for Dan Atkins to tap home.

City were not far away in the 15th minute with a Tyler Joyce header from a long free kick into the box.

Town keeper Michael Jones blocked Ryan Potts’ attempt before the same player headed wide from a free kick, then Asaph went very close when an Alfie Vaughan strike hit the post.

Mikey Burke had an opportunity for Prestatyn when he got the wrong side of a defender, but Luke Jones produced a top class save to deny him.

Town created some good chances in the second half, Ben Jones thwarted by Luke Jones, while John Stewart curled a nice effort just past the post.

Clair also rattled the bar for the visitors following smart work by Atkins.

Saints also had their moments, Vaughan’s shot palmed away by Jones, who also kept out the rebound.

Luke Jones was later injured and replaced between the posts by Michael Crossley, who came up with a quality save to deny Prestatyn a second.

ROUND-UPS

Airbus UK Broughton 4 Rhos Aelwyd 0

After a goalless first half, Cymru North favourites Airbus took charge of the tie in the second period, scoring four times to end Tier 3 Rhos’ determined challenge.

Jordan Evans broke the deadlock on 51 minutes, Stephen Tomassen added a second after 64, James Davies made it three with 76 gone and an Evan Davies own goal completed the scoring.

Bow Street 2 Buckley Town 3

Tier 3 high-flyers Bow Street might have fancied their chances of knocking out Cymru North opponents Buckley, who had lost six games on the bounce and not won in nine, but the higher level visitors narrowly edged the honours.

In a tie featuring 13 yellow cards and two sending-offs, Connor Littler’s 45th minute goal gave Bucks a half-time lead.

Callum Humphries made it two for the travellers on 56, and when Littler added another with an hour played, it looked all over.

However, Ryan Evans pulled one back on 81 and when Rhydian Davies cut the arrears to 3-2 with a 91st minute penalty, there was real drama in the air.

In a lively period of added time, Bow coach Dean Evans was shown a second yellow and the same happened to Scott McHarrie of Town.

Plenty of bad tempers on show, but no more goals. Buckley advance.

Colwyn Bay 6 Llanrwst United 2

Tier 1 hosted Tier 3 in a much-anticipated derby at the Four Crosses Construction Arena which saw Cymru Premier Bay win emphatically, but Llanrwst also put up a good showing.

The first goal came on 26 minutes when Dylan Allshorn struck for the Seagulls and Udoyen Akpan doubled the home advantage after 31.

Akpan netted again on 58, ensuring Bay put one foot firmly into round three.

Substitute Sam Turner scored a fourth for Steve Evans’ men after 66, but Ardal North West battlers Llanrwst were not giving up, top-scorer Callum Parry replying with two quickfire net-finders.

Bay will have been glad to add their fifth through Lloyd Marsh-Hughes on 85 and for good measure Nick Rushton bagged a sixth three minutes into overtime.

Connah’s Quay Nomads 4 Caernarfon Town 1

Jordan Davies’ hat-trick – including two penalties – and a single goal from the in-form Ryan Stratulis made sure Nomads came out on top in this all-Cymru Premier battle.

Sion Bradley notched a late reply for Caernarfon.

CPD Y Felinheli 0 Newtown 6

No fairy tale at Cae Seilo, where Tier 3 rank outsiders Y Felinheli came up against a Newtown outfit determined not to add to their unwanted reputation as slip-up merchants versus lower league opposition.

Dom Smith, Arron Williams (2) and Kieran Mills-Evans put the Robins four-up at half time and after the break, Macauley Taylor and Zeli Ismail added further goals for the Cymru Premier outfit.

Menai Bridge Tigers 0 Llanuwchllyn 2

The lowest-ranked North Wales club still in the Welsh Cup bowed out with honour as Menai Bridge Tigers went down 2-0 to Tier 3 high-flyers Llanuwchllyn.

Ilan Hughes and Meilir Williams grabbed the goals for the Ardal North East travellers, but North Wales Coast West Premier Division underdogs Tigers gave a good account of themselves.

Nantlle Vale 2 Mold Alexandra 2 (Mold won 6-5 on penalties)

The home side were unbeaten in 11 matches while the visitors had won seven on the bounce – something had to give.

Tier 3 Ardal North West hosts Nantlle Vale pushed strong Cymru North outfit Mold all the way before eventually losing on spot-kicks.

Steve Watkins broke the deadlock to give Alex a 39th minute lead.

When Watkins struck again after 83 it looked all over, but in added time Cai Parry, via a free-kick, and Sion Williams netted for Nantlle to force penalties.

A win would have constituted one of Vale’s greatest results, but unfortunately they lost out 6-5 on spot-kicks. The first 10 pens were all converted, but after Mold netted their sixth in sudden death, the Penygroes hosts unfortunately missed.