FAW Amateur Trophy Match of the Day 3: Albion edge nine-goal cracker at underdogs Trearddur

FAW AMATEUR TROPHY ROUND THREE

Trearddur Bay 4 (Reynolds 15 & 26; A Thomas 52 & 85 pen)
Cefn Albion 5 (Kehoe 38, Astley 48 & 77 pen, A Williams 54, Gibbins 80)

Despite a fantastic effort against higher league opposition Trearddur Bay eventually bowed out of the FAW Trophy after losing a nine-goal thriller at Lon Isallt.

Ardal North East title contenders Cefn Albion had been beaten 3-0 at Tier 5 islanders Caergybi in last season’s Trophy and were battered 7-1 at Bangor 1876 in their previous game a fortnight ago, but showed their fighting qualities to edge an epic tussle on Saturday.

Following a fierce downpour, the game started at a slightly delayed time of 2.30 pm.

Straight from the kick off, the visitors put the pressure on, but after quarter of an hour, probably against the run of play, Tier 4 underdogs Bay found themselves one-up.

A swinging cross wasn’t dealt with properly by the Albion defence and Matty Reynolds profited from a flick by Les Davies to score.

Ten minutes later Reynolds doubled his tally, this time his head meeting a long throw by left back Morgan Rowlands to nestle into the bottom corner.

The visitors huffed and puffed to try to regain control of the game, but it was nearly out of sight when Asa Thomas went close, forcing a smart save from Josh Roberts.

On 38 minutes the Cefners found their breakthrough. A quick break resulted in a free-kick at the edge of the box and winger Ryan Kehoe produced a moment of magic to beat Bay stopper Paul Pritchard.

Half-Time: Trearddur Bay 2-1 Cefn Albion

Three minutes into the second half, from a set piece Josh Ashley found himself free to make it 2-2.

Back roared the Bay, with 52 on the clock. Centre-back Dan McGinness produced a stunning 60 yard ball that pierced the Albion back line and found Asa Thomas who lashed home for 3-2.

The celebrations, however, were short-lived as on 55 Cefn equalised. A whipped in corner found Alex Williams free at the back post and he made no mistake finding the net with a good header.

The game settled for a while with both teams back and forth searching for a winner.

And on 77 minutes it looked like Cefn had found it when a somewhat controversial penalty was awarded which Astley converted.

Only three minutes later a superb strike via Dion Gibbins from 30 yards rattled the crossbar and bounced into the net for 5-3.

Trearddur refused to give up and when talisman striker Les Davies was brought down in the Albion box a home spot-kick was the decision. Thomas netted for his 19th goal of the season to set up a nervy last few minutes.

In added time, both Bay’s Myles Jones and Albion goalscorer Gibbins were shown red cards.

The Bay threw everything at the Albion back-line in search of the late equaliser to keep their cup hopes alive, but credit to the Cefn stopper he claimed the ball numerous times to ease the pressure on his side.

A great shame that there had to be a loser.