MATCH OF THE DAY 2: FAW Amateur Trophy – Cemaes Bay 3 Kinmel Bay 4

DRAGON SIGNS FAW AMATEUR TROPHY ROUND ONE

Cemaes Bay 3 (A Thomas pens 15 & 51, Wood 87)

Kinmel Bay 4 (Sheridan 5, Morris 24, Rees 45+2, C Jones 71)

What a tie the Battle of the Bays turned out to be!

Kinmel Bay pulled off a dramatic 4-3 victory away at Cemaes Bay in a game packed with goals, cards and tension.

The visitors got off to the perfect start just five minutes in, when Connor Morris turned provider with a clever cut-back inside the box for Sean Sheridan to smash home from close range.

Cemaes responded swiftly, though. A neat move down the wing saw Codie Holland brought down in the area, leaving the referee with no choice but to award a penalty. Asa Thomas stepped up and confidently converted to level the score at 1-1 after 15 minutes.

Kinmel restored their lead nine minutes later, this time Sheridan turning creator as he squared for Morris, who calmly finished at the back post to make it 2-1.

North Wales Coast East Premier side Bay had a golden chance to extend their advantage when Morris won a penalty and stepped up himself. However, his effort was brilliantly saved by Connor Hughes — a moment that could have killed the game off early but instead kept the hosts alive.

Both Sheridan and Thomas soon found themselves in the referee’s book for late challenges, then  just before half-time the visitors struck again.

A whipped free-kick into the box caused chaos, and Ben Cawley reacted first, firing the ball across goal for Matty Rees to score at the far post. Kinmel headed into the break 3-1 ahead.

Drama followed immediately, however, as Sheridan picked up a second yellow card and was dismissed, leaving Kinmel with 10 men for the entire second half.

The Cemaes lkeeper also received a booking in the heated exchanges before the whistle, with the Kinmel management team’s Alex Craig and Scott Carey also shown needless yellows in what felt like harsh decisions from the referee.

Despite their disadvantage, Kinmel Bay continued to battle. On 50 minutes, Cemaes were handed a lifeline when a cross struck a defender’s hand, and Thomas once again made no mistake from the spot to pull it back to 3-2.

Managerial changes proved crucial for the away side, with a triple substitutions introducing James Hay, Tate Walker and Mason Richards to steady the ship.

The fresh legs paid dividends on 71 minutes, when Richards slipped a superb pass into Anthony Jones, who beat his marker and crossed perfectly for Charlie Jones to head home. The goal restored Kinmel Bay’s two-goal cushion at 4-2.

North Wales Coast West Premier hosts Cemaes pushed hard in the closing stages and were rewarded in the 87th minute. Asa Thomas delivered a dangerous ball that was misjudged by Bay keeper James Roberts, allowing Tom Wood to find the net and set up a nervy finale.

With six tense minutes of added time, Kinmel Bay had to dig deep, defending resolutely and showing immense determination to protect their slender lead.

At the final whistle, the travelling supporters celebrated a thrilling 4-3 win that showcased both the team’s attacking firepower and fighting spirit.

CEMAES BAY

Connor Hughes, Daniel Jones, Dafydd Rowlands, Rhys Lloyd (c), Chris Hughes, Callum Queen, Ben Hoyland, Codie Holland, Asa Thomas, Tom Wood, Iolo Hughes.

SUBS USED: Cian Taylor-Gothard, Mathew Roberts, Luke McKittrick.

KINMEL BAY

James Roberts, Charlie Jones, Ben Cawley, Anthony Jones, Liam Jones, Ciaran Brady, Mathew Beach (c), Ryan Roberts, Connor Morris, Sean Sheridan, Matthew Rees.

SUBS USED: Josh Parry, Paul Brady, Tate Walker, Mason Richards, James Hay.