FAW Amateur Trophy Match of the Day 1: Menai Bridge Tigers are giant-killers once more
FAW AMATEUR TROPHY ROUND THREE – OCTOBER 28, 2023
Radnor Valley 2 (Price 48, Beaumont 79)
Menai Bridge Tigers 2 (Roberts 14, Clayton 31)
(Menai Bridge won 4-3 on penalties)
Magnificent Menai Bridge Tigers have done it again!
Just as they beat higher league opposition on penalties away from home in the Welsh Cup last month, the Tier 4 North Wales Coast West Premier underdogs from Anglesey have repeated the feat in the FAW Amateur Trophy.
On September 16, Aaron Rowlands’ men upset the odds big style when they travelled to Tier 3 Ardal North West leaders CPD Y Rhyl 1879 in the Welsh Cup and triumphed on pens after a 1-1 draw.
Lightning struck twice in the Trophy on Saturday, when the islanders visited Radnor Valley of the T3 Ardal North East League and emerged victorious on spot-kicks, this time following a 2-2 draw.
And just like against Rhyl, Tigers keeper Dion Lewis was a shoot-out hero at The Bypass in Presteigne, this time saving two kicks.
For Saturday’s test, Menai were missing a number of key players, yet still managed to pull off another giant-killing.
Tigers opened the scoring after 13 minutes when Craig Roberts fired home low from just inside the penalty area after the Radnor defence failed to clear a free-kick.
The lead was doubled 18 minutes later after Callum Thomas chased a hopeful ball played towards the Goats’ box.
Thomas eventually pulled the ball back for Lewis Clayton to fire past Will Fowden.
Following a disappointing opening half for the New Radnor club, Joey Price reduced the deficit in the opening minute after the interval, when he cut inside off the left flank before drilling a low shot inside keeper Lewis’ near post from the edge of the penalty area.
Radnor Valley were back on level terms with 11 minutes remaining when substitute Charlie Beaumont headed past Lewis from a Price free-kick on the edge of the box.
Neither team was able to find a winning goal in the closing stages and the outcome of the tie would be decided via a shoot-out.
Both teams missed two of their opening five kicks, before the contest moved into sudden death.
Lewis, who had already thwarted one effort to keep his team in the tie, was the hero for the Tigers as he saved Matt Croose’s strike and sparked the celebrations among the visitors before their long journey back home.
The Tigers now enter the last 64 of this national competition for tier 3 sides and below.
Altogether now……NATURE VALLEY BAAAAAAARS!
MENAI BRIDGE TIGERS
Dion Lewis
Johnny Roberts
Tom Parry (Harry Morgan Jones 55)
Jamie Ryan Jones (Ryan Evans 61)
Dan Jones
Lewis Clayton
Elliot Breaks
Callum Thomas
Craig Roberts
Darren Gowans (Leon Owens 56)
Sion Hogan (c)