Catching up with the NEWFA Challenge Cup

Let’s catch up with the 2024-25 North East Wales FA Challenge Cup, which is now at the semi-final stage.

NEWFA CHALLENGE CUP QUARTER-FINAL REPORTS

Corwen 3 Buckley Town 3 (Corwen won 4-3 on pens)

Ardal North West hosts Corwen caused an upset as they pipped record nine-times cup winners and tier 2 Cymru North outfit Buckley on penalties.
It was 2-2 at half time, Tom Mann and Pat Hinchcliffe on target for the hosts, while Max Moore and Connor Littler replied for the Bucks.
Bradley Knight edged the visitors in front on 62 minutes and 3-2 was how it stayed until Les Brophy levelled with 89 gone.
Before the spot-kicks contest ensued, Corwen’s Sam Henry and Chris Roberts of Buckley were red-carded.
Corwen led 4-3 in the shootout before Tyler French saved from Daniel Burgess to send the home team through to the last four.

Lex XI 1 Airbus UK Broughton 4

Despite playing two divisions below their opponents Lex put up a good show in this quarter-final at Stansty Park.
Fielding a mix of experienced players and promising youngsters, Airbus took an 18th minute lead through Tom Dougherty before Tom Huxley replied to make it 1-1 at half time.
The Cymru North side’s fitness and quality saw them home in the second half, George Peers netting twice to reach 28 goals for the season, with sub Dan Semple adding a single.

Ruthin Town 1 Holywell Town 4

Two Cymru North sides which have both won this cup in recent seasons clashed in a hard-fought quarter-final at Maes Tegid.
Danny Sullivan and Jake Roberts put the Wellmen two-up before Matty Williams pulled one back in first half added time.
Jamie Breese and Danny Andrews struck in the second half to send Johnny Haseldin’s team through.

Flint Town United 0 Mold Alexandra 3

Owen Cordiner (2) and Rhys Edwards shared the goals which sent Cymru North side Mold into the last four at the expense of Cymru Premier opponents who fielded a very young team comprising 16 to 18-year-olds.

SEMI-FINALS

Holywell Town v Mold Alexandra (Thursday, April 17, at Deeside Stadium 7.15 pm)
Corwen v Airbus UK Broughton (Tuesday, April 29, at The Globe, Buckley Town, 7.15 pm)

NEWFA CHALLENGE CUP LIST OF WINNERS

1969-70 Brymbo SW
1970-71 Brymbo SW
1971-72 Bala Town
1972-73 Gresford Athletic
1973-74 Llangollen
1974-75 Buckley Rovers
1975-76 Rhosddu
1976-77 Llay Welfare
1977-78 Cefn Albion
1978-79 Sunblest United
1979-80 Buckley Town
1980-81 Buckley Town
1981-82 Brymbo SW
1982-83 Brymbo SW
1983-84 Llay R.B.L.
1984-85 Brymbo SW
1985-86 Mold Alex
1986-87 Mold Alex
1987-88 Mold Alex
1988-89 Lex Xl
1989-90 Llay RBL
1990-91 Lex Xl
1991-92 Gresford Athletic
1992-93 Cefn Druids
1993-94 Wrexham AFC
1994-95 Wrexham AFC
1995-96 Brymbo
1996-97 Rhostyllen Villa
1997-98 Wrexham AFC
1998-99 Flexsys Cefn Druids
1999-2000 Oswestry Town
2000-01 Buckley Town
2001-02 Buckley Town
2002-03 Buckley Town
2003-04 Bala Town
2004-05 Buckley Town
2005-06 Buckley Town
2006-07 Bala Town
2007-08 Bala Town
2008-09 Lex Xl
2009-10 Buckley Town
2010-11 Rhos Aelwyd
2011-12 Cefn Druids
2012-13 Buckley Town
2013-14 Cefn Druids
2014-15 Mold Alexandra
2015-16 Cefn Druids
2016-17 Gresford Athletic
2017-18 Ruthin Town
2018-19 Cefn Druids
2019-20 Competition incomplete (Covid-19)
2020-21 Competition cancelled (Covid-19)
2021-22 Ruthin Town
2022-23 Holywell Town
2023-24 Flint Mountain

TOTAL WINS

9 – Buckley Town

6 – Brymbo, Cefn Druids

4 – Bala Town, Mold Alexandra

3 – Wrexham, Lex XI, Gresford Athletic

2 – Ruthin Town, Llay RBL

1 – Rhos Aelwyd, Llangollen, Llay Welfare, Buckley Rovers, Rhosddu, Cefn Albion, Sunblest United, Rhostyllen Villa, Oswestry Town, Holywell Town, Flint Mountain