Bute Energy Welsh Cup: Felinheli fight back from 3-1 down to beat Llangefni on spot-kicks

BUTE ENERGY WELSH CUP ROUND OF 32 REPORT – OCTOBER 20

CPDM Y Felinheli 4 (L Edwards 37, Greenough 55, Midwinter 63, Davies 84)
Llangefni Town 4 (F Owen 24, H Owen 28, K Jones OG 43, Coulson 71)
(Felinheli won 4-3 on pens)

Despite being 2-0 , 3-1 and 4-3 down Felinheli came back to win Sunday’s Welsh Cup thriller on penalties.

Having lost 9-3 the previous weekend in the Genero Adran Trophy at Flint Town United – who had been knocked out of the Welsh Cup at 6-2 Llangefni – the form book favoured the tier 3 side from Anglesey against the tier 2 outfit at Cae Seilo.

However, Felin responded well to manager Aaron Jones-Evans’ call for a big performance before they went out to play just a second match of the season on their home ground.

And the reds got off to a very good start against the islanders, whose top-scorer Jess Jones was on the bench having picked up an injury the week befire.

The first 15 minutes saw both sides shine, but Felin had the better of the action, organised and snuffing out any chances the Ynys Mon team aimed to create.

Despite the good opening from the home side, Llangefni got the first goal through a Ffion Owen strike which caught the wind and sailed into the top corner.

The wind was causing chaos at times but Felin were still in control despite Llangefni posing a threat with the gusts behind them.

Felinheli conceded a corner in the 28th minute and Marissa George floated a ball in which again caught the wind and curled towards the back stick, bounced back off the post and fell kindly to Hannah Owen, who had a simple tap in to make it 0-2.

The score did not dampen Felin spirits as they remained patient in their build up.

Chances came and went but in the 37th minute Felin got a goal back through Llywela Edwards. Some neat play from Jordanne Greenough released Edwards, whose early strike from outside the box curled in past a static Katie Spruce.

Llangefni were causing the hosts problems in midfield, producing some good interplay with Ffion Owen at the heart of things.

Town released Hannah Owen on the left, who cut inside and drove a cross into the box. Unfortunately for Felin, it bounced off the back of captain Kelly Jones and with keeper Catrin Beech already committed to coming to claim the cross it found its way into the back of the net.

Half-time: Felinheli 1-3 Llangefni

Home team manager Jones-Evans made a change at half time with Jenna Tugwell-Allsup coming off for youngster Rubie Davies, formerly of Llangefni.

With the wind behind them and playing down Cae Seilo, Felinheli were dominant in the second half. The hosts hit the bar twice, struck the post and forced Spruce into a remarkable double save before all that pressure started to pay off.

With a front three of Fflur Williams, Greenough and Davies causing all sorts of concerns for Cefni, the hosts made it 2-3 on 55.

Williams knocked a cross down into the path of Greenough, who rifled in a shot with the outside of her boot – a dynamic, instinctive finish.

It was all square eight minutes later with the magnificent Katie Midwinter leaving Spruce no chance with a powerful strike from the edge of the box.

Now 3-3, Felin had their tails up,

With Llio Henshaw and Kelly Jones sweeping up at the back, it all pointed to Felin taking the lead, but it was Llangefni who edged ahead in the 71st minute due to a goalkeeping error.

Cefni crossed into the box, it should have been an easy take for Beech, but with the wind picking up again she decided to parry the ball. Unfortunately for her, it fell kindly to Ellie Coulson who made no mistake from close range.

Felin did not panic as they were creating plenty of chances throughout the half and the equaliser came in the 84th minute – who else would score it but former Llangefni player Rubie Davies who had sparkled since she came on.

Greenough again produced a sublime assist, delivering into the path of Davies, who had cut in from the right wing. With Spruce bearing down on her, Davies used the ball’s momentum to guide it past the goalkeeper and into the back of the net, a very clever finish from a player still only 16 years old.

For the next 10 minutes, Felin kept knocking on the door but Cefni held out for a thrilling 4-4 draw. A penalty shootout would decide the tie.

Cefni brought on spot-kick specialist Jess Jones just before the end to ensure she would be part of the contest, but it was Felinheli who triumphed.

PENALTIES

Fflur Williams scores – 1-0 Felinheli
Jess Jones converts – 1-1
Katie Midwinter makes no mistake – 2-1 Felinheli
Ffion Owen is her usual reliable self – 2-2
Jordanne Greenough edges the hosts back in front – 3-2
Beth Jones is successful for Cefni – 3-3
Jordan Roberts nets for the hosts – 4-3 Felinheli
Cefni’s Marissa George misses – 4-3
Llywela Edwards steps up with the chance to win the tie but misses – 4-3
A miss from Llangefni’s Ceri Slaney – game to Felin
FINAL SCORE: Felinheli 4 Llangefni 3

Felinheli manager Aaron Jones-Evans said: “It needed a performance from the women today, especially after last week’s result and I’m sure the women felt the same as well.

“We have spoken at length this season with the squad about having patience and believing in the process. This is a very new squad, a very young squad, there will be ups and downs and there will be mistakes but there’s one thing I cannot question about this squad and that is their character.

“Felinheli will always fight, regardless of the score, win, lose or draw and that is a great foundation for building a successful team.

“Today was progress and I’m hoping we can build on this moving forward.

“It was a win I think we deserved, Cefni played some good football, we had some bad luck, but we kept going and never gave in and that is all I ever ask of these women and today they didn’t let themselves down and they can feel proud of what they achieved today and be proud of coming out on top when things weren’t going their way.

“It is a work-in-progress, but today there were much more positives to take away.”

TEAMS

CPDM Y Felinheli: Catrin Beech, Ellie Jones, Jody Cain, Llio Henshaw, Kelly Jones (c), Jenna Tugwell-Allsup (Rubie Davies 46), Jordanne Greenough, Katie Midwinter, Fflur Williams, Llywela Edwards. Hana Wellings (Jordan Roberts 59).

Llangefni Town: Katie Spruce, Marissa George, Beth Jones, Mared Roberts, Catrin George, Nia Ginnelly (c), Ellie Coulson (Jen Cox 78), Hannah Owen, Ffion Owen, Ceri Slaney, Llinos Hughes (Jess Jones 90+1).