Welsh Cup: Buckley Town reach quarter-finals for first time under current name
JD WELSH CUP LAST 16
Porthmadog 0
Buckley Town 2 (Humphries 51, Driscoll 67)
Well done Buckley – into the Welsh Cup quarter-finals for the first time.
Not since the current Buckley Town formed in 1977, had they ever made the last eight of the national knockout, although they have been knocking on the door, reaching the last 16 in the past two seasons.
A team representing the Flintshire town called Buckley Engineers got to the quarter-finals in 1911-12, losing to Ton Pentre.
Engineers were the premier team in Buckley at that time, but a side bearing the name Town had never qualified for the quarters – until Saturday.
Bucks, who had edged past lower league Llanuwchllyn (2-1) and Bow Street (3-2) in previous stages of this season’s competition, came up against fellow Cymru North outfit Porthmadog in round 4.
With the wind at their backs in the first half, Port created plenty of chances but were left to rue missing them.
Shaun Cavanagh blasted a free kick just over the bar before Danny Brookwell had a shot deflected wide.
Brookwell went much closer with a 25-yard daisy-cutter which missed by inches.
At the other end, Adam Smith went down in the box under challenge from Iddon Price, but no penalty was given.
A long and accurate clearance by Port keeper Alex Ward-Jones put Cavanagh clean through on goal, but keeper Ryan Goldston did well to spread himself and save with his legs.
Tom Mahoney threatened for the home team with a firm drive which was just off radar. Half-time: 0-0.
Port were made to pay for profligacy on 51 minutes when Town’s Callum Humphries‘ header from a corner was saved, but the same player followed up to nod home.
The Traeth men went agonisingly close to levelling when Brookwell burst into the box, was denied by Goldston, and from the rebound Zak Pike nudged the ball towards goal, but it was cleared off the line.
On 67 minutes, Buckley put one foot firmly into the last eight.
Dylan Roberts showed great skill on the left before crossing low into Liam Driscoll, whose shot on the turn made it 2-0.
It could have been three when Aled Bellis picked out Max Moore in space, but Ward-Jones produced a good block.
Porthmadog: Alex Ward-Jones, Morgan Owen, Josh Banks, Nathan Williams, Gruff Ellis, Caio Evans, Tom Mahoney, Shaun Cavanagh, Cai Jones (Zak Pike 19), Iddon Price (Elis Puw 57), Danny Brookwell. Unused subs: Craig Papyrnik, Mabon Owen, Iwan Havelock.
Buckley Town: Ryan Goldston, Adam Boydell, Dylan Roberts, Josh Allen, Callum Humphries, Scott McHarrie, Adam Smith, Sam McCormick, Liam Driscoll (Owen Jones 90+1), Aled Glyn Bellis, Max Moore. Unused subs: Asa Hamilton, Charlie Urquhart, Cameron Meredith, William Weaver.