Report: Ollie Beech. Additional reporting: Dave Jones
Back in 1972-73, Denbigh Town were crowned champions of Welsh National League Wrexham Area Division One on goal difference from runners-up and arch Vale of Clwyd rivals Ruthin Town.
In that same season, Denbigh also made it into the last 16 of the Welsh Cup, They had never equalled that feat since – until today.
Dewi Llion’s Cymru North outfit progressed to round four of the national knockout this afternoon with a 3-0 victory at Llanrwst United.
The Central Park club’s achievement is sure to evoke fond memories for older Town fans who will recall 52 years ago John Trevor Roberts’ side knocking out Connah’s Quay Nomads (2-1), Brymbo Steelworks (2-1 in a replay after a 0-0 draw) and Chirk AAA (2-0) before losing 4-0 at Oswestry Town in the last 16.
The Denbigh Town side of 2024-25 today reached the same stage with a three-goal success at a tricky Llanrwst team who are having a decent season in tier 3 Ardal North West.
Denbigh had knocked the Rwsiters out of the Welsh Cup 6-1 two seasons ago, but this latest tussle had the makings of being much closer. And so it proved.
The home side flew out the blocks and put Denbigh under the cosh, but it was Town who struck the first blow. Ben Lockley worked well on the right, finding Nathan Brown who sweetly tucked the ball home inside the box after 14 minutes.
Llanrwst responded well, visiting keeper Luke Wilmot forced to produce good stops from Julian Williams and Math Hughes before the break.
Denbigh were happy to reach the interval still 1-0 up, but after the restart the Cymru North side were much more of an attacking force.
It was not until the 78th minute, though, that the second away goal arrived.
Sub Tom Salisbury won the ball in Llanrwst’s half and found Owen Davies, who played a one-two with Sam Duffy before smashing home into the bottom left corner.
Late on, Duffy was brought down in the box and the referee pointed to the spot before showing a straight red card to Chris Nicolson. Keelan Williams stepped up and blasted home to make it three before the referee blew for full-time.
Goalkeeper Guto Hughes was the Hotspur hero as he saved the final shoot-out penalty from Les Davies to send Darren Garmey’s men through to the final 16.
In the match itself, Bay had the more dangerous efforts on goal, Hughes performing marvels to foil Davies, Toby Jones and Shaun Cavanagh.
At the other end, Kane Roberts’ strike was well kept out by Carl Jones, but at the completion of the 90, Trearddur would have felt they should have put the tie to bed.
Hotspur skipper Alex Jones was extremely fortunate to escape with a yellow card for a dangerous challenge on Davies.
Nonetheless, it was all down to spot kicks, and just like in their earlier round victory over Caernarfon Town, Spurs were superior from 12 yards.
Tier 3 Llanuwchllyn once more did North Wales and their level of the Welsh pyramid proud by clinching another famous Welsh Cup win.
Having knocked out Cymru Premier Newtown in the last round, Sion Tudor’s men had nothing to fear against tier 3 Swansea University from mid-table Ardal South West.
And the heroic villagers delivered once more with three second-half goals.
Just two minutes after the restart, Sam Evans made the breakthrough from an Ilan Hughes assist.
Top-scorer Meilir Williams doubled the home total on 57 minutes with his 25th goal of the season via the help of Tomos Roberts.
Tomos Evans made it 3-0 after 63, Will Owen this time setting up the goal.
Hats off to giant-killers Mold as they dumped Cymru Premier opponents Briton Ferry out of the Welsh Cup at an excited Alyn Park.
Barry Owen’s men will be one of five Cymru North sides flying the tier 2 league’s flag in the last 16.
Perhaps a little unusually,, Mold and Ferry had quite a recent history. Last season, the Flintshire side beat the South Walians 4-2 in the Welsh Blood Service League Cup Final, while the campaign before Llansawel had triumphed 4-0 at Alyn Park in the Welsh Cup.
Saturday’s latest meeting saw Alex go in front on 37 minutes when following a long throw into the box, the ball came to Owen Cordiner, who flipped it up and turned to score with a sublime volley into the bottom-left corner.
The hosts were in dreamland in first half added time when Henry Nash’s mighty header over the Ferry defence was latched onto by an ultra-sharp Emmanuel Lawal, who did the rest to make it 2-0 at the changeover.
Llansawel made numerous switches after the break, but were unable to get a goal back until the 80th minute when Alex Gammond struck.
And there would be no more joy for the top-flight visitors, leaving an overjoyed Mold looking with relish towards this week’s round four draw.
Cymru North leaders Airbus dished out quite a thrashing to Ardal South East underdogs Goytre.
Mark Allen’s side struck first on 27 minutes when George Peers headed home a Tom Dougherty cross.
Ollie Lanceley doubled the lead after 39 with a fantastic header from another cracking Jordan Evans delivery.
And Lanceley scored again just before half time via a penalty awarded for handball.
On the hour, Lewis Iles pulled one back for Goytre from the spot, but the Wingmakers were soon back in command, Lanceley nodding in for his hat-trick before a marvellous free kick from Evans made it 5-1.
Sam Baker and Peers added further goals before the end.
Jamie Jones grabbed a dramatic winner for Caersws two minutes into added time.
Sam Phillips had edged the Bluebirds in front three minutes into the second half with a strike from the edge of the area before Liam Morris levelled powerfully on 83 to give 1876 a potential penalty shoot out.
But it was not to be for Michael Johnston’s men as Jones poached the late decider in this all-Cymru North encounter.
Despite twice leading in this all-tier 2 clash, Llandudno ended up bowing out of the Welsh Cup at the M&P Group 3G.
The action really began to liven up when Adam Stephens gave Tudno a 28th minute lead.
Tim Parker levelled on 43, but soon after the home side’s Lee Price was dismissed for a second yellow.
Mark Cadwallader then struck to ensure the Seasiders not only led 2-1 at the break, but also had the prospect of playing the entire second period against 10 men.
However, Cambrian were back on terms four minutes into the second half, Josh Allen on target.
It looked to be heading for penalties until in the 87th minute Danny Birch plundered the home team’s winner.
Sam Hart scored his first goal of the season to put Colwyn Bay into the last 16 of the JD Welsh Cup.
The skipper’s match-winner came inside the first five minutes of the second half after Ruthin had equalised Craig Lindfield’s 23rd minute opener, just before the interval.
Ruthin hit the post in the opening stages, but Jamie Cumming then rattled the away team bar before Lindfield scored from Ethan Roberts’ left wing cross on 23 minutes.
Cumming brought a good low save out of Ruthin keeper Dan Goldston, who then superbly thwarted Hart’s header.
Goldston made a fine double stop to deny Tommy Creamer and then Lindfield, before Ruthin broke away and equalised against the run of play with former Bay player Llyr Morris cutting inside and beating Rhys Williams at his near post.
Bay, however, were back in front inside five minutes of the second half when Hart’s free kick into the area was missed by Goldston as he collided with two defenders coming off his line to try and punch clear, and the ball rolled into an unguarded net.
Town pressed hard for an equaliser late in the game, but it was not to be.
Unlucky Flint fought back from two-down fo force a penalty shoot-out, only to eventually lose on the dreaded spot-kicks to the Lakesiders.
A Jake Phillips own goal put Bala in front on 37 minutes and was all that separated the teams at the turnaround.
George Newell made it 2-0 with 61 gone, but the Silkmen bravely rallied, George Maire and Florian Yonsian on the mark after 74 and 82 to force pens.
Phillips and Luke Martiette both had kicks saved by Joel Torrance as Bala progressed 4-2.
Holders Nomads went through as expected away to Cymru South underdogs Trefelin BGC.
Ben Nash’s 37th minute goal handed the Cymru Premier visitors a half time advantage, Rhys Hughes with the assist.
Ben Maher added a second after 57, Declan Poole assisting.
There was a double sending off in the 77th minute, Connor Goldsworthy of Trefelin and Quay’s Nash both seeing red.
Joe Clarke converted a penalty two minuues into stoppage time to give the hosts hope, but the travellers held on.
Afan Lido
Airbus UK
Bala Town
Caerau Ely
Caersws
Cambrian United
Carmarthen Town
Colwyn Bay
Connah’s Quay Nomads
Denbigh Town
Haverfordwest County
Holyhead Hotspur
Llanelli Town
Llanuwchllyn
Mold Alexandra
The New Saints
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