Reports: Welsh Cup QR1 – 46 northern ties, 214 goals, giant-killings, heavy thrashings
2024-25 FAW WELSH CUP FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND – NORTHERN SECTION
Llanfair United 3 CPD Gaerwen 3 (Gaerwen won 5-3 on pens)
What an amazing day it proved to be for Tier 5 Anglesey side Gaerwen as they knocked third-tier favourites Llanfair United out of the Welsh Cup on penalties.
Llanfair, who reached the quarter-finals back in 2016-17, were 2-0 up inside 21 minutes through Rob Andrew and Matthew Stephens.
However, underdogs Gaerwen fought back brilliantly, Nathan Moore and Keiran Williams scoring two minutes apart on 25 and 27 to make it all-square, Huw Evans and Calum Thomas with the assists.
Tomos Jones put the Powys hosts back in front after 65, but with just four minutes left sub Jay Finter made it 3-3 from a Callum Hughes assist to force penalties.
And it was Ynys Môn heroes Gaerwen who prevailed 5-3 on spot-kicks over a team two levels above them in the pyramid, keeper Tomos Hughes producing a stunning save in the shoot out – fantastic stuff!
Cemaes Bay 3 Bow Street 2
Tom Wood’s dramatic 93rd minute decider secured Tier 4 heroes Cemaes one of their best results of recent years as they dumped last season’s T3 Ardal North East runners-up Bow Street out of Wales’ premier national knockout.
North Wales Coast West Premier Division outfit Bay took the lead on 13 minutes when Wood provided the assist for Iolo Hughes to score.
The Magpies levelled after 36 through Iolo ap Dafydd, then edged ahead on 73 through Callum Page.
Cemaes defender Rhys Lloyd popped up to make things all-square again with 76 on the clock.
Just when it looked like the tie would end at 2-2, last season’s 23-goal top marksman Wood delivered the winner.
Bow 1 Dolgellau AA 1 (Bow won 5-4 on pens)
Tier 4 newcomers Bow pulled off arguably their finest result since forming in 2022-23 after edging past strong third-tier outfit Dolgellau at Cae Nant, Llandyrnog.
Last season, Dol finished fifth in Ardal North East, while Bow were in Tier 5, but on Saturday Nick Jones’ North Wales Coast East Premier Division side upset the odds.
A Bow team giving youth its chance produced some fine football from the start.
It took just five minutes for the hosts to break through, captain and last season’s 31-goal leading scorer Robbie Parry latching on to a lovely ball, beating a defender and slotting past the keeper.
Dolgellau equalised on 21 minutes through Ioan Roberts.
With Parry having to leave at half time through work commitments, changes were made by the home side. Dan Sim and Harley Wood proved outstanding in the middle in the second half.
Both sides had opportunities, but neither could score, so it went to penalties and what a story that produced as Bow keeper Martin King saved one and then converted the winning kick.
CPD Penrhyndeudraeth 1 Llanidloes Town 0
Cracker of a result for Tier 4 Penrhyndeudraeth against a Llanidloes outfit which operated in T2 Cymru North last season.
Cian Pritchard scored the winning goal on 62 minutes for the Maes-y-Parc men, managed this season by Steffan Jones.
Amlwch Town 3 Bethesda Rovers 1
Goals from Ally Issa, sub Rhys Roberts and Cian Evans sent Amlwch through to the next round, Tomos Williams replying.
Barmouth and Dyffryn 1 Penmaenmawr Phoenix 1 (Phoenix won 5-4 on pens)
Phoenix edged into QR2 on sudden death penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Llion Owen scored first for Barmouth on eight before Adam Hold set up Ben Jarvis for a 64th minute equaliser.
Berriew 4 FC Plas Madoc 0
New 16-year-old signing Liam Howard ironically took just 16 minutes to make his mark by putting Berriew ahead against North East Wales League hopefuls Madoc.
Tomas Jones, Sion Wilde and John Lloyd added second-half goals for the Rhiewsiders, while Plas had Josh Williams and Harvey Williams sent off in the latter stages.
Brymbo 3 Bethesda Athletic 6
Six on the road for Bethesda Athletic, brothers Osian Hughes (3), Daniel Hughes (2) and Noa Hughes (penalty) splitting the goals.
Callum Webber, Niall Roberts and Jack Smallman replied for Brymbo.
Caergybi 0 NFA 3
Cammron Morris, new signing Kai Davies and Archie Jones delivered the goals for visitors NFA.
Castell Alun Colts 2 Blaenau Ffestiniog Amateurs 2 (Blaenau won 5-4 on pens)
Tier 5 eliminated Tier 4 on penalties after a close-fought 2-2 draw.
Deio Williams put Blaenau ahead, but goals from Nathan Davies and Rhys Williams (penalty) turned things in Casty’s favour before the interval.
Deio Hughes levelled on 76 and the Quarrymen went on to triumph 5-4 on spot-kicks.
Conwy Borough 3 Meliden 2
Will Edwards (2) and Isaac Carey produced the goals which won it for Conwy, but Meliden ran them close with replies from Rio Ross and Jonathan Terry.
CPD Boded 3 Mochdre Sports 2
Goals from Shaun Jenkins, Casey Boylan and Justin Williams made Boded another Anglesey success story in QR1, Joshua Grimshaw having put Mochdre in front before Ben Evans pocketed a late consolation for the visitors.
CPD Bro Cernyw 3 Machynlleth 2
Carwyn McFadden (2) and Gethin Vaughan were on target for victorious Cernyw, Jac Petrie and captain Alfie Westwood responding for the Central Wales travellers.
CPD Caerwys P Llandudno Amateurs P
CPD Cei Connah 3 CPD Henllan 5
Success for Henllan as they saw off North East Wales League new boys Cei Connah.
Josh Jones (2), Harry Payne, Ashley Andrews and a Rhys Edwards own goal made up the away tally, Gavin Hughes, Paddy Jones (pen) and Lee O’Kelly replying.
CPD Cerrigydrudion 3 CPD Pentraeth 1
Delwyn Jones, Tirion Griffiths and Tomos Tryfan Jones found the net for advancers Cerrig, Connor O’Neill getting Pentraeth on the scoreboard.
CPD Gronant 1 CPD Llanystumdwy 1 (Llan won 5-3 on pens)
Kallum Pierce put Gronant ahead, but Arwyn Jones equalised before half time for Llanystumdwy, who went on to progress on penalties.
CPD Llanberis 3 CPD Sychdyn United 3 (Llanberis won 7-6 on pens)
Drama all the way at Ffordd Padarn, where hosts Llanberis went 3-2 down three minutes into added time, yet equalised with 98 gone and squeezed through on pens.
After a goalless first half, sub Liam Prytherch put Sychdyn into the lead on the hour, but Kurt Hellfeld soon levelled and Peter Mansoor handed the Darans a 2-1 advantage after 82.
Kieran Jones squared the tie on 90 and then looked to have snatched it for the North East Wales League visitors with another goal after 93.
But Dion Owen made it 3-3 on 98 and eventually ‘Beris won it 7-6 on penalties.
CPD Llannefydd 4 Llanilar 1
Michael Guest scored twice in the second half to cement Llannefydd’s victory, Sam Jones and Tom Jones having earlier struck for the hosts, Shaun Wyn Jones with Llanilar’s consolation.
CPD Llannerchymedd 1 CPD Llansannan 3
Good result on their travels for Llansannan, Gwion Bibby, captain Rob Hurst and Luke Appleby putting them three-up before sub Callum Roberts managed a late home reply.
CPD Nefyn United 4 Welshpool Town 2
Tomi Evans (2), Josh Piper and Dylan Sion Jones (pen) ensured the Penwaig progressed, Ethan Kinsey with both for the Mid-Wales Lilywhites.
CPD Rhos Aelwyd 2 Gwalchmai 2 (Rhos won 4-3 on pens)
Two Connor Owen goals had Gwalchmai in charge before Rhos scored twice beyond the 90-minute mark to force a penalty shoot-out which they edged 4-3.
Owen struck on 19 and 51 minutes, but Dafydd Robertson gave Aelwyd hope by netting on 91 and Callum Smith bagged a dramatic equaliser on 98.
CPD Y Felinheli 6 Greenfield 0
Six of the best from a Felinheli side featuring eight players aged 21 or under and four making their senior competitive debuts.
Elis Williams, 18, was a hat-trick hero for the Tier 3 hosts, Cai La Trobe-Roberts netted twice and 17-year-old Gruffudd Williams was also on the mark.
CPD Y Rhyl 1879 9 Llandudno Swifts 0
Last season’s Ardal North West top-scorer Callum Parry kicked off the season with a hat-trick for Rhyl 1879 in the Welsh Cup at home to newly-formed Llandudno Swifts.
Tom Kemp, who has just returned to the club, scored twice, as did sub Jonny Taylor, while Alex Jones and Casey Faulkner notched a goal apiece.
Gareth Thomas’ Lilywhites rattled up the biggest win of the day in the northern section.
FC Queen’s Park 3 Nantlle Vale 0
Ten-man Park recorded an impressive win over Nantlle Vale despite having Sean Humphreys red-carded after just nine minutes.
Tony Jones then missed a penalty for the Wrexham side, but they shrugged off those setbacks to hold a half-time lead via a John Edwards goal.
Sub Joshua Venables and veteran Tony Jones added second-half strikes.
Felinfach 1 Chirk AAA 3
A new-look Chirk passed a tricky test in Ceredigion.
The Tier 3 Ardal Northern visitors produced a polished second half performance to win 3-1 after being level at the break.
Felinfach started well and it took a great save from Callum Taylor to keep the score at 0-0.
Brandon Edwards had The Colliers ahead after just 14 minutes, but the home side responded well and equalised on 40 through a powerful Cameron Miles effort.
Chirk introduced Asa Riley at the turnaround and he set the tone early on with some mazy runs.
The visitors dominated the second period and it was no surprise when they retook the lead on 70 minutes through 16-year-old debutant Jayden Sheil.
Brad Pearce wrapped it up on 88 minutes after Riley skipped past several defenders to lay it on a plate.
Glantraeth 0 Penycae 2
Away day joy for Penycae as Zac Davies and Lewis Edwards bagged the goals which sent them into QR2.
Kerry 1 CPD Pwllheli 3
Three goals in five minutes between 76 and 81 turned this tie around for Pwllheli, Jason Banks, Steffan Toplis and Marcus Banks on target after Richard Davies had struck first for Kerry on 33.
Knighton Town 0 Cefn Albion 4
No stopping ruthless Albion in this one.
Boosted by some class summer signings, the Tier 3 visitors took the honours through Jimmy Jones (2), Callum Mannion and Alex Williams.
Lex XI 2 Corwen 3
Sub Thomas Mann’s 82nd minute finish clinched a hard-fought tie in Corwen’s favour.
Henry Evans and Sam Henry had earlier put the visitors two-up only for Lex, down to 10 men after a second yellow for Adam Williams, to restore parity through Ashton Williams and Josh Phillips with goals on 67 and 80 respectively.
After Mann’s winner, Phillips was shown a straight red card for the Lawmen.
Llandrindod Wells 5 CPD Mountain Rangers 0
Ash Jones, Cori Davies, Kieran McCarley (2) and Samed De Groot combined to sink Rangers with a five-goal salvo.
Llanfairfechan Town 1 Llanfairpwll 1 (Llanfairfechan won 4-3 on pens)
Sixteen-year-old goalkeeper Alfie Martin was Llanfairfechan’s hero as he saved two penalties in his first men’s game to send the Tier 4 team into QR2.
Earlier, sub Carwyn Roberts had plundered a 78th minute equaliser for Llanfairpwll after Llanfairfechan had taken the lead through a Harry Croston penalty, awarded for a foul on Ellis Jones.
Llangoed and District 0 Llangefni Town 4
Cefni of Tier 3 claimed an expected victory over fifth-tier opponents with goals from Mo El-Arab, Osian Jones, Jack Smith and new signing Ifan Mansoor.
Llangollen Town 6 Holywell United 0
Will Cooke (3), Kristian Jones, Jake Hayward and Jack Hanley shared the goals in a comfortable Llangollen victory.
Llanrug United 3 Connah’s Quay Town 4
Despite being reduced 10 men at 4-1 down, Llanrug rallied and almost forced a penalty shoot-out.
Goals from Ben Hughes and George Davies got Tier 3 newcomers Town off to a flyer, then when home side player-manager Eifion Williams was red-carded on 38 it looked very grim for United.
It became far worse after Sam Reynolds notched a quick double to give Quay a 4-0 interval lead.
However, an Owen Edwards own goal on 58 gave the Caernarfon-area hosts some hope and a real contest was on after Alan Owen and Kevin Lloyd added further home net-finders after 65 and 73.
Unfortunately for Llanrug, that was the end of the scoring.
Llansantffraid Village 3 CPD Y Glannau 2
Goals from Josh MacGillivray and Kyle Hedge were not quite enough to save a spirited Glannau from defeat at third-tier opponents. Jake Harris, an own goal and Max Evans made up the home tally.
Llanuwchllyn 5 Forden United 1
Meilir Williams picked up where he left off last season with a hat-trick for Llanuwchllyn in a 5-1 beating of Powys visitors Forden.
Williams, who banged in 45 goals in all competitions for the Tier 3 club last term, struck on 18, 63 and 90+2 minutes on Saturday.
Gwydion Roberts added a double for the Ardal North East hosts, Jake O’Donnell with a reply for Forden.
Llysfaen 1 Talysarn Celts 5
An emphatic result in Talysarn’s favour, Sion Pollard, Glyn Hughes-Thomas (2), Aled Jones (pen) and Cai Edwards notching the away goals, Sean Sheridan responding.
Menai Bridge Tigers P Penparcau P (Penparcau withdrawn – Menai bye into QR2)
Mynydd Isa 0 Brickfield Rangers 6
Andy Vale (2, 1 pen), Isaac Dawson, Steve Watkins and sub Jay Richardson (2) all joined in Brickfield’s goal spree on their fruitful visit to Argoed.
Prestatyn Sports 1 Glan Conwy 3
Three red cards in the 87th minute – one for the hosts and two for the visitors – made it a stormy end to Saturday’s cup tie.
Glan Conwy took the honours, Lewis Brownson (2) and Max Williams their marksmen, Lee Pearce with a sole reply for Sports, back in senior football after a season’s break.
Three minutes from time, Glan had both Joel Morgan Jones and Bobby McElrea red-carded. with Steve Falvey dismissed for the home side.
Rhostyllen 5 Four Crosses 2
An seven-goal thriller saw Drew Wickens, Cole Bagnall, Kurt Isaac, man of the match Jack Brindley and Perry Shoemark bag one apiece for victorious Rhostyllen, Rob Weir and Will Howard for the travellers.
Rhos United 0 Llanrwst United 4
Chris Nicolson (3, 1 pen) was a hat-trick hero for Llanrwst, with returning star Julian Williams also making the scoresheet for Leighton Griffiths’ side.
Rhuddlan Town 1 Penyffordd Lions 3
Nathan Large, Brandon Jones and Adam Pugh were the goal-getting stars for Penyffordd, Andrew Merner’s response not enough to save Rhuddlan from elimination.
Rhydymwyn 4 Rhyl Albion 3
A close-fought stormer ended in a narrow Rhydymwyn win.
Nathan Williams (2), Dylan Roberts and what turned out to be a 62nd minute winner from Aaron North sent Rhyd into the next stage, but Albion pushed their opponents all the way thanks to a Kyle Lally’s first half treble.
St Asaph City 4 CPD Cefni 0
Tier 3 Saints outscored their fifth-tier visitors, Callum Roberts, Josh Roberts, Kieran Garnett-Hughes and Jake Walker supplying the goals.
Saltney Town 0 Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant 2
No joy for Saltney as goals from Billy Clarke and William Roberts Morris sent them out of the cup at the first hurdle.
Trearddur Bay 4 Waterloo Rovers 0
Last season’s 60-goal top marksman Asa Thomas and new signing Kaine Bentley, who hit 40 in 2023-24 for Gwalchmai, both found the net twice in Trearddur’s emphatic win over Central Wales North outfit Waterloo.
Thomas’ first was a penalty and he bagged number four with Bentley firing in a pair in between.
FRIDAY’S NORTHERN QR1 TIES (reports carried by GNW on Friday night)
Holyhead Hotspur 10 Valley Seniors 0
Holyhead Town 0 Bontnewydd 2
Kinmel Bay 6 Llandyrnog United 0