Nathaniel MG Cup round two: Reports on great wins for Holywell and Denbigh, plus other ties

NATHANIEL MG CUP ROUND 2 REPORTS

Flint Town United 1 (Stephenson 24)
Holywell Town 2 (Breese 45+9, Murtas 69)

Goal king Jamie Breese and new signing Fabrizio Murtas were on target as Holywell celebrated a superb victory at Cymru Premier hosts Flint.
After the expected frenzied start for a local derby, the home side went close on 13 minutes, George Maire striking the upright
Following a free kick on 24 minutes, Flint took the lead. The ball was hoisted into the box before being played back into the path of Darren Stephenson, who drilled into the bottom corner of the net.
Holywell almost hit back instantly as Tom Bibby let fly from 18 yards, only for Jack Flint to spring across his goal and push the shot around the post.
Maire had a great opportunity to double the lead on 38 minutes but John Danby denied him, then almost immediately at the other end it was Jack Flint to the rescue as he thwarted Murtas with a good save.
During first half stoppage time, Holywell grabbed the equaliser. A misplaced home pass gifted possession away just inside the Holywell half. A quick ball released the evergreen Breese and he sprinted through from the halfway line, keeping his composure and planting his shot beyond Flint.
Early in the second half, Flint’s Cameron Ferguson had an effort cleared off the line by a covering defender.
The winning goal arrived on 68 minutes. As Holywell won possession in midfield, Murtas set off on a mazy run that eventually took him into the area and he swept the ball past Flint.

CPD Y Rhyl 1879 2 (Murray, Latter)
Denbigh Town 2 (Brown, Williams)
(Denbigh won 11-10 on penalties)

This close-fought tie ended in a dramatic penalty shoot-out which delivered an 11-10 Denbigh victory after 14 attempts apiece.
Town are into the third round stage for the first time since 2014-15, when they reached the final, and Saturday also brought their first win on penalties for 20 years.
Dylan Proctor and Jack Parry went close for the Lilywhites in the first half, while Nathan Brown’s free kick was spilled by keeper Flynn Proctor before it deflected over the bar.
Morgan Murray fired wide from a good position for the hosts early in the second period but Town grabbed the lead just after the hour.
Tom Weir fed the ball to Brown who at distance smashed the ball into the top left corner of the net.
Moments later, 1879’s Rocco Hewitt was adjudged to have fouled Max Cooke and saw a second yellow.
Despite having a man less Rhyl fought back and Murray blasted a free kick into the bottom right corner on 71 minutes to level the score.
Three minutes from time, Denbigh were back in front when Weir fed Keelan Williams, who burst through and stabbed the ball into the bottom right corner.
Deep into injury time, however, a long ball into the box was headed on by Paul Fleming and finished by Leo Latter to necessitate a shoot-out.
In the chaos of the penalties, both sides took a total of 14 each with Rhyl given the chance to win it on a number of occasions. However, in sudden death following Brad Barnes’ conversion, Reece Fairhurst could not follow up and Town headed through to the northern section last 16.

Buckley Town 2 Newtown 3

A late rally from the home side was not quite enough to earn Buckley a penalty shoot-out.
Steffan Jones’ close-range header earned a half-time lead for the Robins, before Devon Tory’s curling strike doubled the advantage just before the hour.
Luke Mariette halved the deficit for Buckley in the 89th minute only for Ollie Sharp to restore Newtown’s two-goal cushion five minutes later.
Hugh Holland grabbed the Bucks’ second goal even deeper into stoppage time, but it was too late for the hosts to find an equaliser.

Guilsfield 2 Bala Town 2 (Bala won 3-1 on penalties)

Cymru Premier Bala required penalties to progress away at lower league Guilsfield on Saturday following a 2-2 draw in 90 minutes.
The Lakesiders got off to the perfect start in Steve Fisher’s first game in charge, as the returning Hussein Mehasseb finished from Liam Higgins’ low cross with just three minutes on the clock. However, Guilsfield were level in first half stoppage time thanks to James Smallwood’s deflected effort.
The cup shock was on when the hosts took the lead through Iwan Matthews’ low drive in the 81st minute, but Bala equalised on 84 when substitute John Owen tucked away a rebound.
Bala’s first penalty of the shootout from Dom McGiveron was saved by Luke Evans, before Chris Cathrall converted to give Guilsfield the advantage. However Bala scored their next three penalties and the Guils missed all of theirs, sending the top-flight side through to Round Three.

Llandudno 7 Gresford Athletic 0

Seven heaven for the Seasiders as Mark Cadwallader’s hat-trick inspired a ruthless 7-0 home win over 10-man Gresford.
Cadwallader scored twice in the first half, while visitors manager Eddie Maurice-Jones sent off for dissent.
Adam, Tom and Callum Stephens all scored in the space of five minutes to make it 5-0 by the hour mark, before Gresford’s woes increased with the dismissal of Paul Johnson.
Llandudno made the man advantage count by adding two more goals, Cadwallader completing his hat-trick before summer signing Kieran Smith scored his first goal for the club in stoppage time.

The New Saints 7 Airbus UK Broughton 1

Substitute Sam Baker bagged a consolation goal for Airbus in stoppage time, but holders The New Saints finished up overwhelming visitors.
Louis Phillips, Rory Holden (2), Ben Wilson, Adrian Cieslewicz and Remi Oteh (2) shared the home goals.

Friday’s ties (reports were published on these games on the evening)

Caernarfon Town 3 Colwyn Bay 0
Ruthin Town 0 Connah’s Quay Nomads 9