NEWFA Challenge Cup reports: Holders out, Airbus, Buckley, Ruthin, Mold, Holywell and Corwen progress
NORTH EAST WALES FA SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP ROUND TWO
Airbus UK Broughton 5 Hawarden Rangers 0
Jake Eyre’s first-half hat-trick put Airbus on their way to a comfortable win over tier 4 visitors Hawarden.
In his first start of the season, Eyre struck after just three minutes when he headed in a Dan Collins cross.
A brilliant run and pass from Sam Baker then set up Eyre for a sixth minute tap-in.
Eyre’s treble was completed on 38 minutes when he lashed first-time into the top corner following a Jack Wissett pass.
Great work by Collins enabled Kaiden Cooke to make it 4-0 three minutes into the second half.
At one stage in the second 45, all 11 players in the Airbus line-up had progressed through the club’s academy – something to be truly proud of.
On 65 minutes sub Hugh Holland provided the pass which was converted into a goal at the back post by Baker.
Broughton United 1 Buckley Town 4
Two goals in the last five minutes finally cemented Buckley’s place in the next round after they had faced a decent test at tier 5 new side Broughton.
Dan Burgess’ 27th minute goal for the visitors separated the sides at half time, but things got interesting when the underdogs levelled through Jake Jones with 76 on the clock.
Broughton were only back on terms for two minutes as Connor Littler put the tier 2 Cymru North visitors ahead again after 78.
The hosts then had Joshua Jones dismissed on 82 for a second yellow. Scott McHarrie then made it 3-1 and Littler struck again in the 90th.
Corwen 2 Brickfield Rangers 0
Brickfield’s superb 10-match winning run finally came to an end as fellow tier 3 side Corwen triumphed at the War Memorial Park.
Alex Webster delivered the goals that mattered for Corwen on 12 and 79 minutes.
Llay Welfare 0 Holywell Town 3
Three goals in the opening 20 minutes won this one for the Wellmen.
The 2022-23 cup winners went two-up through a Danny Sullivan double before Macauley Taylor also found the target.
Mold Alexandra 3 Flint Mountain 1
Revenge for Mold as they beat a Flint Mountain side which defeated them in the final of this competition last season.
Fabrizio Murtas gave Alex the lead in first half stoppage time, then Aidan Farren added a second four minutes into the second period.
Seydou Bamba made it 3-0 from an Owen Cordiner assist on 67 and although Matty Scoular replied after 76, the holders crashed out.
Mountain also had Ryan Kershaw red-carded on 70.
Ruthin Town 3 Gresford Athletic 3 (Ruthin won 5-4 on pens)
Ruthin advanced on spot-kicks after a thrilling tie ended 3-3 in normal time.
Josh Evans, Llyr Morris and Harry Martin netted in the game itself for Town, Dave Forbes, James Smith and Alex Buxton replying.