Ardal Northern League Cup – Flint Mountain and Holyhead Hotspur move into semi-finals

LOCK STOCK ARDAL NORTHERN LEAGUE CUP QUARTER-FINALS

There is a possibility of an all-North Wales final in this season’s Lock Stock Ardal Northern League Cup.

Flint Mountain and Holyhead Hotspur were kept apart in the weekend semi-final draw.

Mountain will travel to Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, while Hotspur can look forward to a home meeting with Bow Street.

The last-four ties will be played in April on dates to be confirmed.

Flint Mountain 2 Nantlle Vale 0

Mountain’s marvellous record in cups this season continued as they defeated Ardal North West high-flyers Nantlle Vale for the second time in a week.

Seven days earlier, three league points were secured by Aden Shannon’s side in a 1-0 victory over Vale, and the outcome was the same and the score even better on Saturday as Flint advanced to the League Cup semis.

The Hollingsworth Group Stadium in Broughton was the venue and Mountain took a 41st minute lead when Calyn Spencer’s strike was deflected onto the crossbar, but Lloyd Ellams was able to nod the rebound into the net.

Just before the hour the hosts made it 2-0.

Mountain worked the ball into the box before neat first-time passes between Jack Sconce and Sam Molyneux found Tom Ruffer in space and he drilled past the keeper.

As expected, Nantlle Vale were tough opponents and they gave the home side a real battle, but the Welsh Cup quarter-finalists prevailed.

CPD Rhos Aelwyd 1 Holyhead Hotspur 2

Two goals near the end of the first half were enough to send Hotspur into the last-four.

Shay Murphy provided the assists for both Cory Williams and man of the match Aron Hughes-Jones to apply classic finishes for the visitors.

Rhos fought hard in the second half to close the gap, but they could only manage one reply through James Rumsey in the 87th minute.

Bow Street 3 Builth Wells 1

Rhys Hughes (2) and Richy Ricketts provided the goals which sent last season’s beaten finalists Bow Street into the 2023-24 semis.

Bow took the lead, but the Bulls hit right back with a goal from Danny Hall.

The game was in the balance until two second-half strikes from Hughes settled a hard-fought contest.

Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant 4 Bethesda Athletic 0

Both sides ended up with 10 men as Bethesda’s dreams of progression in the League Cup ended in Powys.

Llan started the brighter and were on the front foot from the off. The game changed on 20 minutes when home player Billy Clarke saw red.

This allowed Bethesda into the game but the home rearguard stood firm.

Indeed it was Llan who had the best chance of the half on 40 minutes when Tommy Evans deflected the ball onto the bar.

Home keeper Dyfrig Jones was then called into action to keep the game scoreless at the break.

Half-time: 0-0

Llan were playing down the slope in the second half, but Bethesda had the early chances, Jones forced into a couple of smart saves.

The game took another twist on 55 minutes when Bethesda player Noa Hughes saw red too.

Ten minutes later Llan took the lead when Gruff Evans swivelled on the edge of the box and rifled a shot into the far corner.

This lead was increased on 73 minutes when Tommy Evans bundled the ball in at the far post.

Two minutes laer, the game was effectively over when Glenn Evans scored with an excellent shot from outside the box.

On 87 minutes the goalscoring was complete after good work from the returning Will Roberts Morris allowed Byron Edwards to finish at the far post.