Match of the Day: Ardal Northern League Cup – Porthmadog beat Rhyl 1879 on penalties

ARDAL NORTHERN LEAGUE CUP

CPD Y Rhyl 1879 1 (Ashton 23)
CPD Porthmadog 1 (C Jones 75)
(Porthmadog won 6-5 on penalties)

Report: DAVE JONES at Belle Vue

A thrilling cup tie which Porthmadog deserved to win inside 90 minutes did eventually go their way via the dreaded penalties.

It was expected to be a close contest between two of tier 3’s in-form sides this season and so it proved.

Rhyl had the first chance on 13 minutes when a precision Sam Ashton pass released Tom Kemp, whose low effort from an angle was well kept out by Ollie Farebrother.

The Lilywhites looked panicky at the back and they gifted an 18th minute chance to Port top-scorer Tom Hilditch, who skewed wide.

The hosts took the lead on 23 minutes when James Stevens delivered a low ball from the right to the near post and Ashton lifted a classy finish into the root of the net.

Port found themselves reduced to 10 men in the 26th minute. Hilditch was shown a yellow by referee Adam Herbert on the advice of a linesman, who had seen an infringement after a ball forward made its way through to home keeper Josh Cooke.

Hilditch argued his case too strongly and was shown a second yellow for dissent. The situation took a while to calm down as both sets of players exchanged words.

Port had a chance when Sion Williams turned brilliantly on the right, burst into the box and squared the ball, but somehow it ended up in Cooke’s grateful arms.

Half-time: Rhyl 1879 1 Porthmadog 0

Ten-man Port were a much different proposition after the break, their dominance giving the impression they were the team with the extra player.

Former Cymru Premier winger Danny Brookwell saw a 25-yard shot deflected wide before following up with a firm strike which Cook did well to grasp.

In the 55th minute the hosts should have made it 2-0 when Jonny Bravo Pinto set up Callum Parry, whose shot lacked power, enabling Farebrother to gather comfortably.

The introduction of substitutes, forwards John Littlemore and Cai Jones, also both ex-Cymru Premier players, made a big difference for Port in the second period.

Littlemore’s first time volley was smartly saved before the former Cardiff Met and Bangor City striker rattled the post with a brilliant drive.

It was on the cards when Port levelled on 75. Rhys Alun Williams rolled the ball into the box where Cai Jones controlled, turned and volleyed home all in the same movement – a superb goal.

Rhyl were now all at sea. Jones raced clear but was thwarted by a great Cooke stop and Littlemore’s follow-up was blocked.

Littlemore was through on 80 but his volley clipped the top of the bar.

Rhyl rode the storm and could have nicked it late on when Danny Clarke drilled in a low cross and an unmarked Parry looked certain to score, but seemed to lose balance and attempted a spectacular flick which failed to find the target.

So it was penalties and this is how they went:

Porthmadog: Cai Jones spot kick saved by Cooke 0-0
Rhyl: Reece Fairhurst scores 1-0
Porthmadog: Rhys Alun Williams nets 1-1
Rhyl: Tom Kemp converts, calm as you like 2-1
Porthmadog: Ryan Williams hits great penalty 2-2
Rhyl: Callum Parry makes no mistake 3-2
Porthmadog: John Littlemore on target 3-3
Rhyl: Bravo finds the bottom-right corner 4-3
Porthmadog: Danny Brookwell as assured as they come 4-4
Rhyl: Ollie Staveley steps up with a chance to win it – hits the bar!
Porthmadog: Nathan Williams scores 4-5
Rhyl: Dan Wright converts 5-5
Porthmadog: Caio Evans finds the net 5-6
Rhyl: James Jones penalty is saved by Farebrother – Port win on pens!

CPD Y RHYL 1879

Josh Cooke
Casey Faulkner
Danny Clarke
James Jones
Reece Fairhurst (c)
James Hay
Tom Kemp
Sam Ashton
Jonny Bravo Pinto
Callum Parry
James Stevens
SUBS USED: Dan Wright, Ollie Staveley

PORTHMADOG

Ollie Farebrother
Jake Jones
Joah Banks
Gruffudd Ellis
Iddon Price (c)
Caio Evans
Rhys Alun Williams
Ryan Williams
Tom Hilditch
Danny Brookwell
Sion Williams
SUBS USED: Cai Jones, Nathan Williams, John Littlemore

ATTENDANCE: 281