Double joy for Rhos United – but what a battle Penrhyn Bay gave them

REM Jones Cup Final 2024-25

Penrhyn Bay 2 (Subkovas 49, George 59)
Rhos United 3 (Allison 9, Williams 41 pen, Sealey 101)
(AET)

North Wales Coast East Division One champions Rhos United completed the double by lifting the REM Jones Cup – but they were given a fierce battle by underdogs Penrhyn Bay.

From the very first whistle at Llandudno’s Go Goodwins Stadium, Rhos stamped their authority on the game.

Calm, composed, confident — they shifted the ball side-to-side, controlling possession, creating space and making Penrhyn chase shadows.

In the ninth minute, the breakthrough came. A beautiful delivery was swung in from the right, and there was Phemmy Allison, towering above the defence, bulleting a header past the stranded keeper.

Penrhyn almost hit back when Stan Farrell curled a free-kick destined for the top corner, but Rich Hillier-Evans flew through the air and tipped the ball onto the post – a stunning save.

Just minutes later, Bay nearly levelled again. A thumping header from a corner was on its way in, but John King bravely headed the ball off the line.

In the 41st minute, the unbeaten Division One tirle winners went two-up.

A huge Bret Durkan long throw into the box caused chaos. Billy Bibby flicked it on, Penrhyn only half-cleared, and as Chris King bravely went for a header, he was kicked in the face.

The referee didn’t hesitate —penalty Rhos!

Up stepped Adam Williams, ice-cold under pressure, smashing the ball home to double the lead.at half time.

Penrhyn came out flying for the second half, while Rhos were slow to get going.

In the 49th minute, a miss-hit clearance fell kindly to Aaron Gregson, who squared it for Bernardas Subkovas to tap in for 2-1 — game on.

With added impetus, Bay poured forward again and in the 59th minute Farrell threaded a perfect through ball, and Gabriel George made no mistake for 2-2.

On 89 minutes, Penrhyn almost snatched it. George again burst down the left, cut it inside to Gregson whose shot was brilliantly saved by Hillier-Evans.

The ball fell to Jordan Davies with the goal gaping… but somehow, Durkan came from nowhere, putting his entire body on the line to produce an incredible last-ditch block that kept Rhos alive.

Full-time 2-2, extra time needed.

Something special was required to win this classic contest and who better than Lewis Sealey to provide it

Gliding past defenders, Sea;ey was hacked down on the edge of the box in the 101st minute.

Sealey stepped up, whipped a sensational free-kick over the wall and past the despairing dive of the keeper into the top corner for 3-2.

Bay threw everything at Rhos in the final 15 minutes.

The 119th minute produced one last heart-stopping moment. Penrhyn shot from distance, and Hillier-Evans somehow got fingertips to it, tipping it onto the crossbar.

The Penrhyn keeper was up for the corner but Rhos defended like lions and the final whistle blew.

For Hillier-Evans, Adam Williams and Richard Hill it meant back-to-back doubles with Bow and Rhos, having also gone unbeaten in both league campaigns with the two clubs.