Full match report – Cookson Cup Final 2023-2024: Kinmel Bay 1 Llandudno Junction 0

COOKSON CUP FINAL 2023-24 – APRIL 27, 2024

Kinmel Bay 1 (Gray 60)
Llandudno Junction 0

Report: Leon Field

Kinmel Bay made history on Saturday by winning their first ever Cookson Cup in a thrilling 1-0 victory at Central Park, Denbigh Town.

The day started well for the Morfa club with a well prepared team breakfast hosted by The Kinmel & Kinspa where all the players and management met up.

During breakfast managers Andy and Leon went through the starting line up before we all travelled in convoy over to Denbigh Town’s ground. All our preparations were complete ahead of this eagerly anticipated game.

Nerves had set in at this point so the lads relaxed by walking the pitch, chatting amongst themselves to loosen up.

A great warm-up from Andy and Leon set the tone and the lads were really looking fired up and ready to take on their friends from Llandudno Junction in a tie that had seen both teams win against each other in the two league games this season, to make it even at one victory apiece.

The game started and both teams flew out of the blocks looking to score a quick early goal. The sides were trading blows, the first real attack with promise falling to Kinmel Bay who nearly had the lead but Tomos Evans made a great save

By the 25th minute Kinmel Bay had started to get a foothold on the game playing some good passages of play and creating a lot of opportunities for Nyal Hughes who was pulling all the strings feeding the forward line of Oli Gray, Connor Morris and Tate Walker.

Another attempt at goal was again saved well by Evans only to be parried into the path of Walker, who couldn’t quite angle his effort into the goal.

Kinmel Bay’s defence consisting of Liam Jones, Ash Wood, Daniel Wickerson and Ben Cawley was holding firm cancelling out the attacks from Dean Seager and David Maddock. Both Llandudno Junction lads were strong and knew how to hold up the play and turn the opportunity into attack but the defence stayed firm with the carefully watching eye of Danny Mills in goal.

Both teams were happy to go in 0-0, allowing further instructions to be implemented by both team managers.

The second half began and it was Kinmel Bay that showed the early signs of promise when Patrick Hamid tried his luck from 25 yards out but the effort went well wide.

In the 56th minute Mason Richards threaded a perfectly weighted through ball forHamid to chase in on goal, but the heroic efforts from Evans again in goal managed to buy some time for Kieran Edwards to get back and clear the ball off the line.

Unfortunately this would be the last save Evans would have to make as he went off injured from his magnificent efforts and everyone at Kinmel Bay wish him a speedy recovery.

A change to Junction’s shape and no doubt game plan caused centre Back Stephen O’Neill to step into the role of goalkeeper, with Jack Nettleton replacing the injured Evans.

At the restart Kinmel Bay shifted the ball from right to left before Morris unleashed an effort that hit the crossbar.

The ball was recycled by Nyal Hughes who then played a great pass into Hamid, who on the edge of the box fired across the goal only to hit the upright and it was Gray who reacted first and cut back inside before unleashing a 20-yard beauty that left O’Neill rooted to the spot.

1-0 to Kinmel Bay and Gray performed a backflip to celebrate and send the fans into ecstasy.

This regalvanised Llandudno Junction and for the next 10 minutes Bay had their backs against the wall as the Railwaymen pushed hard for an equaliser.

On the 73rd minute Dean Roberts replaced Mike Williams and Tomos Rhys-Williams came on for Dan Prince for Junction, which forced Bay into their first change of the afternoon, Jacob Jones taking the field in place of Walker.

Rhys-Williams was making an instant impact, causing Kinmel Bay all sorts of problems with his pace and quick delivery. Dan Roberts picked the ball up in midfield and delkivered an inch-perfect pass to Seager, who on the 83rd minute was brought down by Daniel Wickerson in the area to earn Junction a penalty.

Up stepped a confident Matt Jones who hadn’t missed a penalty all season only for Mills to dive correctly to his left and save the spot-kick. This gave Kinmel Bay the push they needed to get going.

Owain Roberts was brought on for goalscoring wonder boy Gray in the 84th minute. Cole Rich replaced Captain Marvel Hamid on 92.

Referee Steven Hughes indicated nine added minutes so the game plan was to recycle the ball out to the wingers Jacob Jones and Owain Roberts who would aim to keep the ball in the corners.

To kill some time Nyal Hughes was replaced by Cory Owen to help see the game out.

The final whistle blew and our coaches and fans ran on the pitch to celebrate with their star players.

History was written Kinmel Bay had etched their names onto their first cup trophy.

The game was contested extremely well from both sets of teams and we wish Llandudno Junction all the best for the remainder of the season.

As a club we would like to thank everybody involved who make Kinmel Bay a great family club.

This includes all the spectators who came down to support and to all our sponsors who enable us to function every season because without all of this it wouldn’t be possible.

KINMEL BAY

Danny Mills
Liam Jones
Ben Cawley
Ashley Wood
Dan Wickerson
Nyal Hughes (Cory Owen 90+7)
Mason Richards
Paddy Hamid (c) (Cole Rich 90+2)
Connor Morris
Ollie Gray (Owain Roberts 84)
Tate Walker (Jacob Jones 75)
Sub: Connor Craig

LLANDUDNO JUNCTION

Tomos Evans (Jack Nettleton 56)
George Roberts
Chris Morris
Stephen O’Neill
Kieran Edwards
Mike Williams (Dean Roberts 73)
Dan Roberts
Daniel Prince (Tomos Rhys-Williams 74)
David Maddock
Bryan Roberts (Matthew Jones 83)
Dean Seager
Sub: Harry Kirkham