NWCFA Junior Cup semis: CPD Y Glannau and Llanfairpwll upset odds by making final!

NWCFA JUNIOR CHALLENGE CUP 2023-24 SEMI-FINALS

Y Glannau 8 Bow 1

CPD Y Glannau set themselves up for the biggest day in the club’s history as they reached the prestigious NWCFA Junior Challenge Cup Final in dazzling style.

Five-goal Harrison Bellis may have been star performer, but it was a major all-round team effort which earned the St Asaph-based side sweet revenge over a Bow outfit which had beaten them in all three previous meetings this season.

Bellis boosted his 2023-24 goals total to 48 in all competitions with another wonder display for a home team already in great form, having won nine of their last 10 matches.

Y Glannau took a 12th minute lead when Bellis fed a lovely 20-yard ball through to Luke Stanley, who raced away from an angle to fire home his 12th goal in 10 outings.

After 20 minutes it was 2-0. Josh MacGillivray sending a great flick through to Bellis, who finished in typical fashion.

Two minutes later, Bow pulled one back. Kyle Robb headed down a cross into the path of Rob Parry, who knocked in his 21st goal of the season.

Far from discouraged, Y Glannau hit right back and made it 3-1 within another couple of minutes.

Osian Williams went on a run and got taken out on the right, MacGillivray swung in the free kick from 25 yards out and it curled all the way in.

On the half-hour Bow were in big trouble after keeper Richard Hillier-Evans was red-carded for dragging back Bellis after the striker had dispossessed him,

Cale Kemp stepped up from CB to do a job between the sticks, Unfortunately for him, he was picking the ball straight out of the net as Bellis hit his free kick low and hard to make it 4-1.

Y Glannau had a man advantage in the game for just four minutes as the ref then sent Jake Reddaway off for a last-man foul.

The following free kick was superbly saved by Brad Wright, then cleared off the line by Osian Williams.

Christian Fontana’s side finished the half very well.

Tawse Cox set up Bellis for his hat-trick. then the roles were reversed – Bellis pulling a neat ball back for defender Cox to make it 6-1 at the break.

Y Glannau began the second half strongly, Kemp forced into good stops to deny Stanley and MacGillivray.
MacGillivray assisted in goal number seven on 53 minutes, his precision pass putting Bellis away for his fourth.

Ashley Bamber and Joey Fontana were controlling the game in the middle. Captain Joey is Mr Glannau – a man who would do anything for his club.

During the game he dislocated a finger but put it back in himself to ensure he could continue, showing the dedication he has for this team. This man deserves a trophy so much.

With 14 minutes remaining Bellis completed the rout by making it 8-1 with his fifth of the tie from a Stanley assist.

A special mention to Matt Edge who came on after 65 minutes to make his Glannau debut and showed great composure on the ball.

Also the return of Ged Burke, who came on for Bellis for the last 10, minutes. He pressed the Bow back line really well.

Llandudno Amateurs 1 Llanfairpwll 2

Quite a shock at the OPS Wind Arena as Llanfairpwll stunned favourites and North Wales Coast East Division One leaders Llandudno Amateurs to reach the final of the Junior Cup.

The great Alun Mummery, Llanfairpwll’s long-serving secretary who passed away in December 2022, would have been so proud of his beloved team on Saturday as they totally upset the odds.

Three-time Junior Cup winners ‘Pwll will now take on CPD Y Glannau in the final in May.

The first half was a very cagey affair.

Llanfair, who had lost their previous four games, began the semi-final playing an aggressive high line, catching the home team offside multiple times.

Chances were very few and far between. Pwll’s Carwyn Roberts had a long range effort whistle past the post, but both defences were on top in the first half for sure.

The second half started off in a similar fashion, Llanfairpwll’s goalkeeper Calum Andrews had to be alert for the balls in behind and swept up very well for most part, until a miskick into the middle of the pitch found the Amateurs in acres of space.

They slid through Mike Chapman and Andrews pulled off a lovely save from an effort that looked like it was going to loop over his head and in.

Then not long after in the 59th minute, the ball was won back in midfield by the hosts, questions were asked whether it was a foul and Chapman was fed in behind again, this time firing across into the top corner, no chance for Andrews.

For a minute or two Llanfair looked a bit nervy after conceding, but once they got settled the Amateurs started to drop deeper, holding onto the lead and inviting the pressure.

On the 80-minute mark the Amateurs played some neat stuff in midfield and found Joe Jones free through on goal only to be called offside by the referee.

The hosts made it known to the referee they were not happy with the decision and from the resulting Dylan Williams free kick, the ball was chested by Gwyndaf Hughes to Carwyn Roberts on the edge of the box. He let it run through his legs and only about five yards behind was Rees Roberts, who smashed home side-footed, the shot evading all in his path to make it 1-1.

The Amateurs kicked off and Carwyn Roberts found himself in ample space to play through Gethin Owen, who slotted the ball hard and low across the keeper to make it 2-1.

Two goals in the same minute from the Pwll.

With not long left on the clock Amateurs started piling men forward and Llanfair were countering with ease, but struggled to find that killer instinct to finish the game off.

Nonetheless, a fantastic result for the islanders, who now look forward to the final in May.