FAW Amateur Trophy: Llanrwst, Trearddur Bay and Brickfield Rangers make last eight

Three North Wales teams are through to the last eight of the national FAW Amateur Trophy – Llanrwst United, Brickfield Rangers and Trearddur Bay.

Today’s fourth round ties also saw unfortunate exits for tier 4 giant-killers Lex XI, who went down narrowly 3-2 at home to third-tier table toppers Bow Street, while Connah’s Quay Town exited on penalties to former Welsh Premier outfit Port Talbot.

Bethesda Athletic 1 Llanrwst United 2

Trophy ‘old heads’ Llanrwst United, runners-up in 1900 and 1998, plus semi-finalists in 2011-12, took on a potential banana skin in tier 4 North Wales Coast West League Premier Division leaders Bethesda Athletic.

Pesda led 1-0 at half time courtesy of a 13th minute strike from Joe Todd, Cameron Robertson with the assist.

Entering the final 20 minutes, the upset was still on, but then two goals in quick succession from the Ardal North West tier 3 favourites turned the tide.

Sam Thomas equalised before Chris Nicolson made it 2-1.

Llanrwst dominated possession and territory in the second half and it was a driving run from Joel Jones that led to a scrambled clearance landing at the feet of Thomas to curl a left-footed shot into the bottom corner.

Again, more Llanrwst pressure forced a poor looping clearance allowing Nicolson to chest and volley superbly from 18 yards.

Nicolson received his third red card in four matches on the 90-minute mark, but the Rwsters would not be denied their place in the quarters.

Brickfield Rangers 0 Canton 0 (Brickfield won 4-1 on penalties)

Goalkeeper Ryan Price was the Brickfield hero with two penalty shoot-out saves which earned his team a place in the last eight.

Ardal North East Bricky took on determined Cardiff opponents Canton of the Ardal South East and there was little to choose between the teams.

The match, played in freezing conditions, saw both sides battle hard without finding the breakthrough, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.

Both created several opportunities but were unable to convert, with Brickfield looking the more dangerous going forward, while Canton’s defense held strong. The game remained deadlocked throughout, despite an intense final push from both sides in the dying moments of regular time.

With no goals to separate them after 90 minutes, the match was decided by penalties. Rangers held their nerve, converting four of their spot kicks, while Canton could only manage two, thanks in part to two crucial saves from Price.

Connah’s Quay Town 0 Port Talbot Town 0 (Port Talbot won 4-2 on penalties)

Penalties heartbreak for Connah’s Quay as tier 4 South Wales Premier League side Port Talbot prevailed at Deeside Stadium.

Former Cymru Premier outfit Port, who are aiming to rebuild after being relegated from tier 3 last season, had a goal disallowed in normal time, but the hosts could not take capitalise and it ended up going to a shoot out.

Veteran Jamie Reed and Edward Brown both failed to convert for the Ardal North West side, 42-year-old keeper Chris Curtis saving one, while Ryan Kostromin, Christian Allen, Michael Morgan and Ceri Williams all put theirs away to win the contest 4-2.

Lex XI 2 Bow Street 3

Tier 4 heroes Lex gave higher league leaders Bow Street all the trouble they coud handle before eventually bowing out 3-2 at Stansty Park.

Kian Davies opened the scoring for the North East Wales League Premier Division underdogs in the 12th minute from a Jason Edwards assist.

Ardal North East overnight leaders Bow levelled on 21, Sion Ewart setting up Callum Page, but the prolific Harry Massey restored the Law lead after 29 with his 25th goal of the campaign, Tom Huxley providing the assist.

Richie Ricketts made it 2-2 just before the interval to set up a thrilling second half.

The winner came 11 minutes, Page on target with Ricketts the assister.

Great effort from Lex, but not quite enough.

Trearddur Bay 1 CPD Llanuwchllyn 0

Trearddur will fly the flag for Anglesey in the quarter-finals after a Joe Chaplin goal edged out national knockout stars of 2024-25 Llanuwchllyn at Maes Cynlas.

Llan had made it to the respective last 16s of the Welsh Cup and FAW Trophy, but will progress no further although they are well placed in Ardal North East.

Chaplin delivered the decider for the tier 3 Ardal North West hosts on 66 minutes, Dewi Thomas with the assist.

Lots of quality players were on show, but the tie could only muster a single goal.

FAW Amateur Trophy round of 16 results

Bethesda Athletic 1 Llanrwst United 2
Brickfield Rangers 0 Canton 0 (Brickfield won 4-1 on penalties)
Connah’s Quay Town 0 Port Talbot Town 0 (Port Talbot won 4-2 on penalties)
FC Cwmaman 3 Treowen Stars 2
Goytre AFC 4 Penydarren Seniors BGC 3
Lex XI 2 Bow Street 3
Trearddur Bay 1 CPD Llanuwchllyn 0
West End 2 Penygraig United 3