FAW Amateur Trophy round 4 Match of the Day: CPD Y Rhyl 1879 hit Phoenix for six

FAW TROPHY ROUND FOUR – NOVEMBER 25, 2023

Penmaenmawr Phoenix 0
CPD Y Rhyl 1879 6 (Pughe 2, Ellis 13, Cairns 26, A Jones 44, Hold 47, Staveley 69)

Rampant Rhyl 1879 had won all four previous meetings with Penmaenmawr and made it five out of five in some style in Saturday’s FAW Amateur Trophy clash at Cae Sling.

With Phoenix flying high in the Tier 4 North Wales Coast East Premier Division, they were looking to cause a cup upset against the Lilywhites, who top the Tier 3 Ardal North West League, but had been knocked out of the Welsh Cup by Menai Bridge Tigers from a level below earlier in the campaign.

On this day, however, there were to be no mistakes from Gareth Thomas’ men, who came into the weekend tie undefeated in seven. Indeed, their previous loss had been the aforementioned slip-up against Menai Bridge in September.

In just the second minute, 1879 were on the scoreboard. A quick attacking move down the right saw Chris Bennett win a corner, Adam Hold delivered deep into the danger area, Phoenix failed to clear and Meirion Pughe was able to get enough on the ball to score his first for Rhyl.

The early pressure and difference in class began to show as the Lilywhites moved the ball around the wonderful playing surface, leaving the home side chasing shadows at times, and on 13 minutes the lead was doubled.

Alex Jones’ exquisite pass found Kieran Ellis, who turned and riffled the ball through the crowd into the net.

On 26 minutes a great team move that started with Pughe and James Jones at the back ended with Ellis knocking the ball down to James Cairns, who opened his body and let rip a thunderbolt of a finish into the top corner.

Just before the break came something really special. Alex Jones would pick up the ball on the right of midfield and advance, ride a tackle, play a one-two with Ellis, beat another challenge, round the keeper and slot into the goal.

Early in the second half, Ellis was fouled on the edge of the box. Hold stepped up to take the free kick, whipping the ball over the wall and under the bar, leaving keeper Adam Jones with no chance.

The rout was complete on 69 minutes, Macauley Taylor this time the provider.

A delivery coming in from the left saw a scramble in the box, and Oli Staveley showed typical composure to apply the finish.

RHYL 1879

Ryan Woods
Chris Bennett
Meirion Pughe
James Jones
Reece Fairhurst (c)
Ollie Staveley
Sam Ashton
Alex Jones
James Cairns
Kieran Ellis
Adam Hold
SUBS USED
Macauley Taylor
Mark Roberts
Oliver Buckley
Miles Todd
Sion Williams