Welsh Cup special 2: Kinmel Bay 3 Brickfield Rangers 1 – tier 4 eliminates tier 3
JD WELSH CUP ROUND ONE – September 21, 2024
Kinmel Bay 3 (Morris 7, Sheridan 41 & 57)
Brickfield Rangers 1 (Dawson 52)
Two of North Wales’ most in-form sides met in the Welsh Cup first round at Y Morfa – and it was undefeated hosts and underdogs Kinmel Bay who came out on top.
Bay made it seven straight wins in 2024-25, no losses in 13 across all competitions – 12 victories and a draw – and 17 matches unbeaten going back to last term.
Meanwhile, Ardal North East high flyers Brickfield, who began the season with 10 consecutive wins before being held at Radnor Valley the previous weekend – lost for the first time in 12 matches.
Tier 4 Bay, third in the North Wales Coast East Premier Division, claimed a second third-tier scalp this campaign having already knocked Penycae out of the FAW Amateir Trophy.
Saturday’s Welsh Cup tussle saw Bay quick out of the blocks, pressing Brickfield all over the pitch and not allowing them any time to settle.
Dani McIlvogue pinched the ball in midfield and sent a perfect pass out to the right for the on-rushing Connor Morris, who beat his man and unleashed a thunderous shot which flew into the net after seven minutes.
Bay were flying and went close twice more, Nyal Hughes firing just wide and Mason Richards forcing a great save from Ryan Price.
At the other end a superb stop by Ash Lavender denied Brickfield the equaliser.
It was not until 41 minutes before the home side got their well-deserved second – a perfectly whipped in corner from Hughes seeing Sean Sheridan leap highest and convert with a bullet header.
Half-time: Kinmel Bay 2 Brickfield Rangers 0
Rangers must have had a strong talking to at half time, for as well as a shape change and a couple of subs they came out flying, putting the Bay under pressure from every angle especially through dynamic Jay Richardson down thr right.
One of Richardson’s crosses was fired against the upright and the rebound blasted over the bar.
Soon Brickfield were rewarded for their work rate when on 52 minutes a great inswinging corner from the left caused a bit of a scramble in the box and sub Ben Dawson fired home to make it 2-1. Bay were under heavy pressure now but dealt with it very well.
Then on 57 minutes, home defender Liam Jones picked the ball up at the back and saw Sheridan making a run through the middle.
Jones popped a perfect 40 yard pass to Sheridan’s feet. The striker ran between the two centre backs, drew the keeper out, faked a shot as the glovesman went down and calmly slotted into the back of the net.
Surely that put the game to bed, but Bay wanted more and as the half went on they had increasing possession and with fresh legs being introduced looked very dangerous right to the end.
Keeper Price was forced into some cracking saves and Bay also had a very strong penalty shout waved away.
Teams
Kinmel Bay: Ash Lavender; Oliver Gray; Mason Richards; Liam Jones; Daniel Wickerson; Ciaran Brady; Ash Wood; Nyal Hughes; Danni McIlvogue; Sean Sheridan; Connor Morris; Keiran Holland; Dom Holland; Jack Lloyd-William; Cam Berry; Jarred Hughes.
Brickfield Rangers: Ryan Price; Iwan Hardy; Lewis Clamp; Callum Roberts; Steve Watkins; Harry Fuller; Andrew Vale; Gerson Neto; Aiden Fox; Michael Ashworth; Jay Richardson; Ryan Lancelotte; Leroy Ngema-Stamp; Harri Lucas-Jones; Louis Pritchard; Benjamin Dawson.