Match of the Day – Welsh Cup last 16: Tier 3 Flint Mountain into the quarter-finals

JD WELSH CUP LAST 16

Flint Mountain 2 (Hayes 39, Hughes pen 52)
South Gower 1 (Giardelli 82)

Ardal North West heroes Flint Mountain remain on course to become only the second Tier 3 team in history to reach the Welsh Cup semi-finals after entering the last eight with an epic victory over South Gower at Park Hall, Oswestry.

Only Holywell Town have previously made the semis of Wales’ 146-year-old premier knockout competition while operating in the third-tier of Welsh football.

That was in 2013-14, when the Wellmen, of the then Welsh Alliance League, eliminated one Cymru Premier club and three from the Tier 2 Cymru Alliance en route to the last four, where Aberystwyth Town ended their fairytale run.

Now Flint Mountain, in just their second season at Tier 3 level, are one win away from joining them.

Aden Shannon’s side are the lowest-ranked team remaining in the 2023-24 Welsh Cup, with The New Saints, Bala Town, Connah’s Quay Nomads, Briton Ferry Llansawel, Buckley Town and Cardiff Met University this weekend joining them in the quarter-finals.

Either Colwyn Bay or Barry Town United will also be in the last eight, depending on who wins their last 16 tie, which was postponed today due to a waterlogged pitch.

Today’s test for Mountain against South Gower, of Ardal South West, was an all-Tier 3 tussle between two fairly evenly-matched sides.

Flint threatened first when a long ball from the back released Mike Hayes, whose low strike beyond keeper Dion Carroll came back off the post.

Joe Holt then stole the ball in midfield and fed Hayes, who raced clear, but was denied by a good block from Carroll.

Not long after Hayes found the net, after being set-up by Holt, but the striker’s effort was ruled out for offside.

However, six minutes before the break the magical breakthrough arrived. Ex-Bala Town and Caernarfon Town striker Hayes, who had been knocking on the door the entire half, was the man on target.

Jack Sconce intercepted a pass to the left wing, ran forward and delivered into the box for Hayes, who beat the keeper at his near post with a fierce strike.

Half time 1-0 and seven minutes into the second period, Mountain doubled their advantage..

From a counter-attack, a brilliant run by Hayes saw the striker then find Sconce, who looked a cert to score before Carroll brought him down – clear penalty,

Rob Hughes dispatched the kick into the bottom-left corner to make it 2-0.

The last 20 minutes saw South Gower rally and on 82 a lovely finish from Alex Giardelli made it 2-1.

Despite a large amount of added time, however, Mountain held on for the biggest win in their short history.

After the game, goalscorer Hayes said: “This has to be our biggest-ever win. To get into the Welsh Cup quarter-final is massive.

“The lads put in a right shift, they left everything out there and you can’t ask any more.”

Asked who he would like to draw in the quarter-final, Mountain manager Aden Shannon said: “They’re all good sides left, but we can compete with anybody, bring anybody on is my opinion.”

FLINT MOUNTAIN

John Danby
Ieuan Hewitt (c)
Rowan Brooks
Tom Ruffer
Jack Sconce
Mike Hayes
Rob Hughes
Joe Holt
Aaron Simpson
Chris Li
Lloyd Ellams
SUBS USED
Sam Henry
Calyn Spencer
Aaron Hassall
UNUSED SUBS
Rowan Whelan
Corey Smart