Victories for Ruthin, Gresford and Llay Welfare in Nathaniel MG Cup

Nathaniel MG Cup round one – Northern Section

Reports – Friday 19 July

Ruthin Town 2 Bangor 1876 1

New signings Josh Evans and Jack Edwards were both on the mark as Ruthin edged a 2-1 verdict over Bangor 1876 at the Memorial Playing Fields.

Town’s pair of summer captures from Chirk AAA looked sharp from the start of Friday’s Nathaniel MG Cup tie.

Early on, Evans went on a mazy run that took him past several players. The ball then broke to Edwards, but his shot was.blocked by a Bangor defender.

The visitors threatened when Mason Blackwell-Jones showed pace to break down the right and cut inside. He then sent in a powerful low shot but home goalkeeper Morgan Edmunds saved well with his feet.

Corrig McGonigle shot well on the turn, but Edmunds managed to push his effort around the post.

After 25 minutes, Bangor were initially awarded a penalty by the referee after McGonigle went down following a tackle by Ryan Williams. However, the official changed his mind after consulting one of his assistants.

The travellers continued to press, McGonigle heading narrowly over after Tom Mahoney sent in a corner from the right.

Both sides posed danger from free kicks before Liam Morris’ fierce strike was kept out by Edmunds.

The hosts came within inches of taking the lead just before the break. A cross swung in from the left eluded everyone before bouncing back into play off the inside of the post.

HALF-TIME: RUTHIN TOWN 0-0 BANGOR 1876

Ten minutes into the second period the hosts took the lead via Evans at the back post with a powerful low finish.

Midway through the second period, Blackwell-Jones played a neat through ball towards Harry Galeotti, but Edmunds was out quickly to smother the attacker’s attempt.

In the 77th minute Ruthin went two-up. Bangor gave the ball away when seeking to play their way out from the back. The ball was fed through the middle to Edwards, who side-footed past Carl Jones to double the home advantage.

Several close calls from Bangor followed to no avail before in the final minute of injury time, Telor Williams picked out McGonigle at the back post and the striker found the net with a calm finish.

Unfortunately for 1876, the goal didn’t make a difference to the outcome as there wasn’t time to restart the game before the final whistle sounded.

Llay Miners Welfare 3 Denbigh Town 1

Former Denbigh striker Matthew Worrall returned to haunt his old club with a double for Llay in Friday night’s victory at The Ring.

It all started well for Town when Owen Davies applied a cool finish on 19 minutes to put Dewi Llion’s side in front with the first goal of the 2024-25 North Wales football season.

Denbigh keeper Aaron Jones produced a great stop to deny Scott Swords before the Welly levelled on the stroke of half time, Worrall finding the net via a scramble after the ball was launched into the box.

Llay began the second half well, Dave Macintyre missing a big chance before Worrall was thwarted by keeper Jones and then a defensive block.

In the 63rd minute it was 2-1 to the hosts. The away back-line failed to deal with a long ball forward and Portuguese Ruben Lima Teixeira applied the finish.

Three minutes later a great effort from the right from Worrall put the Wrexham-area hosts 3-1 to the good.

Flint Mountain 0 Gresford Athletic 3

Cymru North newcomers Flint Mountain were second best on the night to Eddie Maurice-Jones’ experienced Gresford outfit.

After a goalless first half, the deadlock was broken on 52 minutes when Athletic’s Paul Johnson smashed the ball in from close range.

Dominic Deacon’s strike was pushed onto the crossbar by Mountain keeper Reece Thompson before Lewis Dutton produced a fine stop at the other end.

Mountain were reduced to 10 men in the 66th minute when Ryan Kershaw was shown a straight red.

Two minutes later, Gresford took advantage of the extra man when Deacon concocted a great dribble and finish to make it 2-0.

And Deacon added a third before the end, Charley Mann with the assist.