Welsh Cup match analysis: CPD Y Rhyl 1879 v Flint Mountain – the verdict

MATCH OF THE DAY ANALYSIS

JD WELSH CUP ROUND ONE – SEPTEMBER 21, 2024

CPD Y RHYL 1879 1 (Kemp 29)
FLINT MOUNTAIN 1 (Simpson 49)
(Rhyl won 4-3 on penalties)

Last season, when they were both tier 3 clubs, Rhyl 1879 and Flint Mountain met three times.

Eventual Ardal North West champions Mountain outclassed the Lilywhites twice in the league, 4-1 away and 6-1 at home.

The teams also clashed in the FAW Trophy at Belle Vue. Rhyl won that one 3-2, but Mountain were in control until late red cards and conceding twice in the closing minutes cost them the tie.

Over the three matches, Flint were considerably better, and in the end 1879 missed out on the promotion to tier 2 achieved by their rivals.

Today was a different story.

Early tier 3 high-flyers Rhyl were the slight underdogs when Cymru North outfit Mountain visited Belle Vue in the Welsh Cup.

Although the Flintshire side’s early 2024-25 form – seven defeats in 11 games across all competitions – was ordinary, they have generally given a good account of themselves and shown promise.

However, the Mountain team which competed this afternoon was quite different to the one which featured regularly last season.

They came across as a slick, skilful side but perhaps not the knitted-together unit they were last term. They lacked a bit of punch in attack.

It is early days, and they will surely improve, but today they met their match in a highly motivated Rhyl.

Perhaps feeling a little revenge was due after last season’s struggles with the same opponents, the Lilywhites were fired up from the start.

Right from the opening minutes, one could tell this was a close battle in the making.

The final 1-1 scoreline was probably just about fair. Neither side created a deluge of chances, defences were very sound as a whole.

It could be argued that the free kick which led to Mountain’s goal should not have been given, but that’s the way luck goes sometimes.

The visitors still had to create the chance and score from the set-piece and they did so.

Rhyl’s new signing Dylan Proctor looked handy and lively up front, his experience of playing for some good North West clubs suggests he will be an asset.

Goalkeeper Adam Reid was superb in the shoot-out and solid in general throughout, while Tom Kemp showed class and steel in the midfield, a fine display rewarded with his team’s goal.

James Jones, Reece Fairhurst and Ollie Staveley were tremendous at the back, while the deliveries from corners by Danny Clarke and James Stevens were first class.

Jonny Bravo Pinto and Proctor were always a threat to a solid Mountain defence, and Jordan Worthington and Sam Ashton fared well in the midfield tussles.

The question could be asked, have Rhyl 1879 improved since last season or have Mountain gone backwards, given the closeness of their contest today compared to last season ?

The conclusion is it may be too early in the season to give a decisive answer.

One hopes a club with great facilities and a tremendous fan base like Rhyl can go far in the Welsh Cup – the competition is better for them being in it.

As for Mountain, a season of consolidation in the Cymru North could be a decent outcome for them. They have come such a long way in a short time and much better could be yet to come.

They were my North Wales Team of the Season in 2023-24. While they won’t be making the Welsh Cup quarter-finals again like they did last term, there is still much for them to play for.

PLAYERS OF THE MATCH

RHYL 1879 – Danny Clarke

Really imposed himself on the game as a full-back with plenty to offer the attack.
His deliveries into the box were awesome.

FLINT MOUNTAIN – Luke Johnston

The quality of his midfield play stood out. Good capture for Mountain from The New Saints this season.