Gwalchmai lift NWCFA Intermediate Cup for first time in their proud history

NWCFA INTERMEDIATE CUP FINAL 2023-24

Gwalchmai 3 (Bentley 65, C Owen 90+2, M Evans pen 90+7)
CPD Penrhyndeudraeth 1 (H Davies 47)

With 81 goals between the three of them this season, it was little surprise that Kaine Bentley, Connor Owen and Marc Evans all found the net as Gwalchmai lifted the NWCFA Intermediate Cup for the first time in their history.

Trailing 1-0 to Penrhyndeudraeth early in the second half, Craig Evans’ side rallied to win 3-1 thanks to a stunning equaliser and two added-time strikes to claim the 43rd major club honour since they formed in 1946.

Bentley’s 40th goal of a magnificent season, Owen’s 29th and Evans’ 12th ensured the Anglesey side scooped perhaps the biggest trophy of their 78-year existence.

Twice in past seasons, Gwalch had reached the Intermediate final, only to lose narrowly on each occasion.

For fellow North Wales Coast West Premier Division side Penrhyndeudraeth, it was their first appearance in the final of this competition, which dates back to 1894/95.

Both sides produced a great contest in front of a large crowd at Nantporth Stadium, Bangor, the later 5 pm kick-off no doubt a good move by the North Wales Coast Football Association, who had built up the game brilliantly during the week on social media.

After a goalless first half, Penrhyn nudged in front on 47 minutes when Gwion Davies set up Harri Davies to score.

Gwalch needed to turn the tables and when they did it was spectacular.

The brilliant Bentley made it one-apiece on 65 minutes via a stupendous 25-yard volley, sending the supporters from Ynys Môn into raptures.

It remained 1-1 until two minutes into stoppage time. Sam Jones made a fine run and dragged the ball back for Connor Owen, who lashed home past the keeper at his near post.

The final was in its 97th minute when Owen was brought down in the box by keeper Iwan Davies and Evans finished in usual deadly style from the spot.

A joyous occasion for Gwalchmai. but Penrhyndeudraeth could feel proud of the performance they put up.

TEAMS

GWALCHMAI

Caron Hughes
Sam Jones
Gethin Jones (c)
John R Jones
Andrew Jones
Darren Roberts
Chris Bennett
Josh Owen
Kaine Bentley
Connor Owen
Marc Evans
SUBS USED: Gwion Thomas, Gareth Allman, Declan Jones, Cian Owen

PENRHYNDEUDRAETH

Iwan Davies
Harri Davies
Ifan Jones
Cedri Jones
Meilir Edwards
Deegan John (c)
Alun Hughes
Cai Henshaw
Reece Evans
Gwion Davies
Tom Hughes
SUBS USED: Carwyn Foster

NWCFA INTERMEDIATE CUP HISTORY/LIST OF WINNERS

North Wales Coast Amateur Cup Finals (former name for NWCFA Intermediate Cup)

1894/95: Bangor 2 Llandudno Swifts 1
1895/96: Bangor 2 Llandudno Swifts 0
1896/97: Llandudno Swifts 5 Bangor 1
1897/98: Bangor 3 Holywell 0
1898/99: Bangor 4 Buckley Victoria 2
1899/1900: Llandudno 3 Buckley Victoria 0 (after 2-2 draw at Flint)
1900/01: Bangor 9 Buckley Victoria 1
1901/02: Rhyl 1 Caernarfon 0 (after 1-1 draw at Bangor)
1902/03: Bangor 3 Rhyl 1
1903/04: Llandudno 2 Bangor 1
1904/05: Bangor 1 Colwyn Bay 0
1905/06: Bangor Reserves 2 Flint 1
1906/07: Holyhead 3 Llandudno 0 (after two 1-1 draws at Bangor)
1907/08: Holyhead 3 Greenfield 0 (after 0-0 at Bangor, 2-2 and 1-1 at Llandudno)
1908/09: Caernarfon 1 Conway 0
1909/10: Flint 1 Pwllheli 0
1910/11: Caernarfon 1 Bangor Reserves 0 ( after 2-2 draw at Llandudno)
1911/12: Bangor 4 Holywell 0
1912/13: Rhyl 5 Holywell 0
1913/14: Holywell 1 Colwyn Bay 0
1919/20: Bagillt 2 Conway 1
1920/21: Holyhead Railway Institute 3 Holywell 1
1921/22: Holywell 1 Holyhead 0
1922/23: Caernarfon 2 Holyhead 1
1923/24: Denbigh 1 Barmouth 0
1924/25: Penmaenmawr 2 Denbigh 1
1925/26: Conway 5 Penmaenmawr 1
1926/27: Conway 2 Holyhead 1 (after 0-0 draw at Bangor)
1927/28: Llanfairfechan 4 Colwyn Bay Reserves 0
1928/29: Llandudno Reserves 4 Llanfairfechan 2
1929/30: Bettisfield (Bagillt) 3 Llanfairfechan 2
1930/31: Flint Town Amateurs 3 Llysfaen 0
1931/32: Flint Town Amateurs 2 Bethesda 1
1932/33: Flint Town Amateurs 5 Bethesda 0
1933/34: Flint Town Amateurs 4 Portmadoc 0
1934/35: Flint Town 2 Portmadoc 1
1935/36: Flint Town 1 Llanfairfechan 0
1936/37: Buckley Town 4 Blaenau Ffestiniog 1
1937/38: Portmadoc 2 Castle Fire Bricks 1
1938/39: Buckley Town 2 Blaenau Ffestiniog 1
1939/40: Flint Athletic 6 Penmaenmawr 1
1945/46: Conwy Borough 2 Portmadoc 1
1946/47: Caernarfon Town 4 Connah’s Quay Albion 3 (after 1-1 at Llandudno)
1947/48: Llandudno 3 Caernarfon Town 2 (after 1-1 at Bangor)
1948/49: Holywell 2 Barmouth 0
1949/50: Holyhead Town 2 Conway Borough 1
1950/51: Connah’s Quay Albion 3 Bethesda Athletic 1
1951/52: Connah’s Quay Juniors 2 Bethesda Athletic 0
1952/53: Connah’s Quay Nomads 4 Nantlle Vale 0
1953/54: Buckley Wanderers 2 UCNW Bangor 1
1954/55: Connah’s Quay Nomads 7 Buckley Wanderers 3
1955/56: Barmouth 1 Buckley Wanderers 0
1956/57: Portmadoc 2 Buckley Wanderers 1
1957/58: Holywell Town 6 Gwalchmai 0
1958/59: Portmadog 8 Holywell 3 (after 1-1 at Bangor)
1959/60: Bala Town 4 Peritus 0
1960/61: Newborough 2 Denbigh Town 1
1961/62: Llandudno 4 Rhuddlan 0
1962/63: Portmadoc 3 Holywell Town 0
1963/64: Peritus 4 Ruthin 1 (after 2-2 at Bangor)
1964/65: Llanberis 4 Buckley Rovers 1
1965/66: Buckley Wanderers 2 Newborough 1
1966/67: Ruthin 3 Flint Town United 1
1967/68: Llanberis Athletic 3 Denbigh Town 0
1968/69: Flint Town United 6 Llechid Celts 0
1969/70: Denbigh Town 3 Llanberis 1
1970/71: Llangoed & District 2 Mostyn YMCA 1
1971/72: Mostyn YMCA 1 Denbigh Town 0
1972/73: Ruthin 2 Llanberis 0
1973/74: Nantlle Vale 3 Aberffraw 0
1974/75: Nantlle Vale 2 Point of Ayr 1

NWCFA Intermediate Cup finals

1975/76: Nantlle Vale 2 Llanfairpwll 1
1976/77: Flint Town United 1 Courtaulds (Greenfield) 0
1977/78: Caernarfon Town 5 Beaumaris 0
1978/79: Courtaulds (Greenfield) 3 Connah’s Quay Nomads 1
1979/80: Llanberis 2 Connah’s Quay Nomads 1
1980/81: Connah’s Quay Nomads 2 Mold Alexandra 1
(competition suspended)

NWCFA Intermediate Cup finals

2008/09: Greenfield 2 Gwalchmai 1
2009/10: Prestatyn Town Reserves 2 Gwalchmai 1 (aet)
2010/11: Glantraeth 1 Beaumaris Town 1 (aet – Glantraeth won 4-1 on pens)
2011/12: Prestatyn Rovers 1 Rhyl Reserves 0
2012/13: Llansannan 1 St Asaph 0
2013/14: Caernarfon Town Res 2 Prestatyn Town Res 2 (Caernarfon won 4-2 pens)
2014/15: Prestatyn Sports 5 Waunfawr 1
2015/16: Llanystumdwy 3 Llandudno Albion 0
(competition suspended)
2022/23: St Asaph City 4 Menai Bridge Tigers 0
2023/24: Gwalchmai 3 Penrhyndeudraeth 1

LIST OF WINNERS (87 finals – 51 winners)

8 – Bangor
5 – Caernarfon Town
4 – Llandudno, Flint Town Amateurs, Portmadoc
3 – Holywell, Connah’s Quay Nomads, Nantlle Vale
2 – Rhyl, Holyhead, Denbigh Town, Conway, Flint Town, Buckley Town, Buckley Wanderers, Llanberis, Ruthin Town, Flint Town United
1 – Llandudno Swifts, Bangor Reserves, Caernarfon Town Res, Flint, Bagillt, Holyhead Railway Institute, Penmaenmawr, Llanfairfechan, Llandudno Reserves, Bettisfield (Bagillt), Flint Athletic, Conwy Borough, Connah’s Quay Albion, Connah’s Quay Juniors, Barmouth, Holywell Town, Bala Town, Newborough, Peritus, Llanberis Athletic, Llangoed & District, Mostyn YMCA, Courtaulds (Greenfield), Greenfield, Prestatyn Town Reserves, Caernarfon Town Reserves, Glantraeth, Prestatyn Rovers, Prestatyn Sports, Llansannan, Llanystumdwy, St Asaph City, Gwalchmai