Nathaniel MG Cup: Wins for Rhyl 1879, Gresford and Denbigh Town

NATHANIEL MG CUP FIRST ROUND

CPD Y Rhyl 1879 2 Caersws 1

In the final game of last season at the Hops and Barley Community Stadium, Rhyl 1879 put the seal on their Ardal North West title win with a 1-0 victory over CPD Llannefydd secured by a late Paul Fleming goal.

Today, in the first competitive match for the Lilywhites since that April 19 occasion, Fleming was the hero again as he grabbed an 87th minute decider to cement a 2-1 triumph against Caersws in the Nathaniel MG Cup.

The super-fit 38-year-old veteran, a 76th minute substitute this afternoon and who notched 12 goals for 1879 last season, once again proved his worth to Paul Moore’s side.

Manager Moore was full of praise for Fleming after the game, saying: “It’s great when you can bring on someone like Flemo; his experience, he did so fantastically well for us last season and today he came on, won every header and again made a difference.”

The first half ended 0-0 with few chances for either side.

Seven minutes into the second half, 1879 took the lead when last season’s 31-goal top-scorer Dylan Proctor finished off a James Farr delivery.

Unfortunately, the hosts then took their eye off the ball and allowed Caersws almost an instant equaliser via through Tommy Rowlands.

The winner arrived when Reece Fairhrst got a flick on a Billy Holmes corner and Fleming forced the ball over the line. Keeper Max Williams tried to scoop it out and sub Seb Bolton lashed the ball in to make sure, but Fleming had already administered the scoring touch.

Moore said afterwards: “The first half was quite an even game, but in the second the plan was to open them up, put Dylan out wide, and it worked.

“We scored, but then conceded. which was our own fault, I told the lads the only way we will concede was by making mistakes and if you switch off for a second at this level, you get punished – that’s our learning from today.”

Praising the effectiveness of the subs, Moore added: “I’ve said before the squad will be really important this season and that was the case today straight away with the impact our subs had.”

Rhyl 1879: Flynn Proctor, Ahmed Ibrahim, Billy Holmes, Tom Kemp, Reece Fairhurst, Ben Lightfoot, Josh Lawrenson, Jack Parry, James Farr, Morgan Murray, Dylan Proctor. Subs used: Paul Fleming, Seb Bolton, Mo Ali, Leo Latter.

Gresford Athletic 3 Brickfield Rangers 0

Second half goals from Jake Roberts, Paul Johnson and Mark Winslade secured an impressive win for Gresford over Cymru North newcomers Brickfield.

Athletic started well, Charlie Mann putting in a great cross in the 10th minute trying to find Haci Ozlu, but the ball went over the crossbar.

In the 16th minute, Joe Nelson fired a shot, but former Gresford goalkeeper Robbie Williams made a good save.

Roberts and Nelson both had powerful efforts blocked in the 27th minute, before Roberts’ 29th-minute free-kick was parried away by Williams.

Ozlu launched a lovely ball into the box, but Johnson’s header went just wide of the post.

In the 55th minute, Iwan Roberts almost found the first goal for Gresford, trying to squeeze the ball into the net, but Williams foiled again.

Then, in the 58th minute, the deadlock was broken, Roberts picking up the ball high up the pitch before calmly placing it into the bottom corner.

Ozlu was through on goal in the 73rd minute, but Williams did well to force him out wide and remove the attacking threat.

However, in the 75th minute, the Colliers found a second through the ball bundling into the net from Johnson’s effort.

Late on, substitute Winslade did incredibly well to take the ball past defence and keeper to walk it into an open net.

Flint Mountain 1 Denbigh Town 3
Report: Ollie Beech

A second-half fightback saw Town come from a goal down to clinch victory at Bastion Gardens via goals from Matthew Worrall, Ben Lockley and Nathan Brown.

Owen Payne and Luke Johnston featured for the first time in Denbigh colours, whilst Worrall made his third debut for the club. Meanwhile, Tom Weir and Jacob Duffy were on the bench.

New-look Mountain started well, Owen Cassidy’s header at the back stick forcing Elijah Beattie to make an impressive save.

Two minutes later Worrall chased down goalkeeper Stephen Bullen, only for his blocked effort to land in the shot stopper’s arms.

No chances of note after that until eight minutes before the break when Worrall ran on to a ball over the top, but was denied with his effort one-on-one.

Danny Clarke’s header from a Keelan Williams’ cross rattled the crossbar after 43.

Just as it looked like Town were in the ascendancy though, it the hosts who found the breakthrough. A ball down the left channel was crossed by Cassidy and met the head of debutant Jonny Bravo, a Rhyl 1879 tier 3 title-winner last season, to hand Flint the lead.

Half-Time: Flint Mountain 1-0 Denbigh Town

Town manager Dewi Llion made a triple change at the break, handing Weir his second debut whilst Dan Flanders and Brown also came on for Payne, Keiron Roberts and Sion Jones.

Early in the second half, Bravo rounded Beattie only to find the side netting when he should have doubled the advantage.

The game had really come to life as Bravo was denied low by Beattie before Denbigh went up the other end via Brown who chipped the keeper from range, but it trickled wide.

Bravo was again involved on 56 minutes when his effort deflected and began to trickle wide only for Jonny O’Sullivan to get there and somehow miss the target from close range.

On the hour mark Town were inches away from a leveller when Brown’s free-kick from 25 yards struck the left post.

Finally, with 71 minutes on the clock Town did restore parity. Worrall had an effort initially denied before it fell to Brown who directed it back towards goal and Worrall made sure to see it home to reopen his Denbigh account.

With five minutes to go and penalties a real possibility, Denbigh turned the screw. Another ball in from Flanders this time met the head of Lockley who placed it in the top left corner for the lead.

Without time to pause for a breath Town put themselves out of sight two minutes later when Weir slotted Brown through to drill the ball into the bottom right corner.

Denbigh will travel to Rhyl 1879 in the next round.