Eight FAW Amateur Trophy ‘giant-killings’ – quite a day for the underdog!

There were eight instances in the FAW Amateur Trophy first qualifying round northern draw of a lower-tier team beating one from a level higher.

Can you class them all as giant-killings? Some definitely, others perhaps more of a cup upset rather than a David slaying a Goliath.

Nonetheless, it is good to see not everything going to the form book.

Here are the eight ‘giant-killings’ from Saturday…..

(T5) Amlwch Town 5 (T4) Gwalchmai 4

Four-goal hero Tomos Llyr Williams struck three times in the last 12 minutes as Amlwch completed a dramatic turnaround from 4-2 down to knock Gwalchmai out of the Trophy.
Town, relegated to tier 5 this season, fell three goals behind in the first half, new signing Darren Lewthwaite netting twice and Alan Mark Owen once before Cian Evans hit back for the hosts on 36 minutes.
It remained 3-1 until the 67th minute when Williams notched his first for Amlwch from an Elliot Wright assist.
However, Lewthwaite completed his hat-trick on 75 to put Gwalch – it seemed – on the brink of qualification for the next round.
Williams pulled one back on 78, then added a penalty after 84 to tie the scores and make it a hat-trick.
And Williams had the last word with an 89th minute decider. Gwalchmai were unfortunate to lose their goalkeeper Kenny Hughes to injury after just nine minutes.

(T4) Castell Alun Colts 4 (T3) Llay Miners Welfare 3

North East Wales League Premier Division side Castell Alun were on cloud nine after ending the Trophy progression hopes of Ardal North West outfit Llay.
Having lost on penalties to another tier 3 team in St Asaph City the previous weekend in the Welsh Cup, Casty were determined to avoid further heartbreak and it was they who were celebrating at the final whistle.
The underdogs led 2-0 at half time courtesy of penalties from Nathan Davies and Daniel Woosey.
When Davies made it three on 57 minutes, Colts must have already been dreaming of the next round, but Charlie Cottis quickly replied for the visitors, who were in tier 2 last season.
Jamie Hardy put Casty 4-1 up on 84, but still the Miners would not lie down, even after being reduced to 10 men in injury time when Ellis Hickey was given his marching orders.
Six minutes over the 90, Jared Taylor made it 4-2 and in no time Jonathan Collo cut the deficit to one, but the home side held on for a famous win.

(T4) Dyffryn Banw 1 (T5) Deiniolen 3

Tier 4 Central Wales Northern Division side Dyffryn Banw from Powys were left shellshocked after Deiniolen of tier 5 North Wales Coast West Division One dumped them out of the FAW Trophy.
Arwyn Price handed the visitors a lead with a 24th minute strike, then in first half stoppage time both Kaden Nisbet and Deio Roberts found the net for the underdogs.
Deiniolen kept a clean sheet until the 97th minute, when Rowan Chapman bagged a consolation for Banw.

(T4) Kinmel Bay 3 (T3) Corwen 1

This was a tremendous win for a Kinmel Bay side which eliminated a Corwen outfit who knocked Prestatyn Town out of the Welsh Cup seven days earlier.
North Wales Coast East Premier tier 4 hosts Bay did all the damage inside the first 34 minutes, Sean Sheridan netting twice and Mackenzie Slaven adding a third.
Josh Parry and Anthony Jones supplied an assist apiece.
Corwen hopes were revived 10 minutes into the second half when Sam Henry scored from the spot, but this was the Morfa side’s day.

(T4) Menai Bridge Tigers 6 (T3) Llandrindod Wells 0

It has to be seen as quite a shock when a tier 4 side hammers a team from tier 3 6-0 in any cup competition.
Menai Bridge, who were in Ardal North West last term but are now members of the North Wales Coast West Premier Division, certainly showed no mercy when Ardal North East hopefuls Llandrindod Wells travelled to Treborth.
Cameron Barry edged the Tigers ahead on 39 minutes, but the hosts were at their roaring best in the second half.
Callum Davidson all but put the tie beyond the Spaman by striking in the 47th and 49th minutes, Gerwyn Roberts and Kaine Bentley with the assists.
Jamie McDaid, the goal machine who recently returned to the club, made his mark with number four, seven minutes after coming on as a substitute, Sion Hogan the supplier.
There was no let up from the islanders as Matthew Jones and Tomos Roberts added the fifth and sixth in the closing stages.

(T5) CPD Pentraeth 3 (T4) Bontnewydd 2

An occasion to savour as North Wales Coast West Division One hosts Pentraeth overcame Bontnewydd from a level above.
Matthew Parry struck twice for the Sandmen, with the prolific Charlie Dales also on the mark, Cai Edwards and Jac Bee keeping Bont in the hunt.

(T3) Porthmadog 0 (T4) CPD Nefyn United 0 (Nefyn won 6-5 on penalties)

This has to rank as one of Nefyn’s finest-ever wins.
The tier 4 visitors held Ardal North West title favourites Porthmadog to 0-0 in 90 minutes and then proved marginally sharper-shooters on penalties.
The Penwaig had already caused one upset by knocking tier 3 Mynydd Isa out of the Welsh Cup seven days earlier, but given Port’s history and experience, this victory was a lot bigger.
In a goalless first half, North Wales Coast West Premier side Nefyn went closest to scoring, Ifan Gwilym and Rhys Williams forcing great saves out of Josh Cooke.
Port pressed hard in the second half, but United defended heroically.
The game became physical at times during the final 15 minutes and Port’s Cai Jones and Nefyn’s Llyr Pennant Williams were shown the red card after a scuffle broke out in midfield.
No goals, so penalties were needed.
Rhys Williams hit the post for Nefyn and Gruff Ellis stepped up to win it for Port, but Alex Ward-Jones saved – 4-4 and sudden death!
Port’s Jack Gibney and Gethin Trenholme were unsuccessful, the next two kicks were scored (5-5), then Ward-Jones saved from his opposite number Cooke.
Ifan Gwilym came forward for Nefyn and scored – the Penwaig were through!

(T4) CPD Y Glannau 6 (T3) Llangollen Town 1

Another tier 3 side took a caning from a club a league below as Y Glannau thrashed Llangollen Town 6-1.
Ste Kirk notched a hat-trick for the North Wales Coast East Premier Division hosts, Dan Price added a double and Chris McQuillen was also on the mark.
William Evans bagged a consolation for Ardal North East Llangollen.