JD Welsh Cup round one: Tier 4 Broughton United advance on penalties

JD WELSH CUP ROUND ONE

Broughton United 1
Welshpool Town 1
(Broughton won 3-2 on penalties)

Report: SHAUN BEST

Broughton are through to the Welsh Cup second round after a penalty shootout victory over fellow Tier 4 side Welshpool Town at the Hollingsworth Group Stadium on Friday night.

The North East Wales League Premier Division hosts held their nerve to knock out spot kick specialists Welshpool, with Lewis Thornton keeping out three pens for the home side.

Having won their two qualifying games on penalties, the team from Powys couldn’t make the third time a charm. Broughton won a shootout 3-2 after the teams played out a 1-1 draw over 90 minutes.

Jake Jones netted the winning penalty at Airbus’ stadium to put Broughton in the hat for the second round.

The home side dominated large parts of the game and spent much of the first half on the attack. After Welshpool goalkeeper Rhys Jones superbly turned over Luke Muia’s close range effort, Broughton’s high pressing was rewarded with a free kick on the edge of the box.

James Rutter curled in the resulting set piece to give his side a deserved lead. Jones then showed too much of his goal to the advancing Thomas Beacher and the home defender was unlucky to see his effort ricochet off a post and cleared.

Welshpool thought they had equalised when Ben Jenkins seized onto a poor defensive header by Nathan Swann-Jones to slot home, but an offside flag ruled the effort out.

Young shot stopper Jones continued to impress for Welshpool and equally frustrate Broughton when he tipped over Lewis Wright’s goal bound effort.

With just the one goal advantage, Welshpool could not be counted out. They made a rare attack count by finding an equaliser. Alfie Briggs saw his shot in the box blocked, but the ball fell invitingly for captain Richard Litchfield to roll it into the net.

The visitors then had a chance to win it. Substitute Daniel Morris broke clear and his perfectly timed lay-off found fellow sub Reuben Cartwright in space, but Broughton goalkeeper Lewis Thornton rushed out to close the angle and make a crucial stop.

Jake Jones had one final chance for the home side, only to see his namesake between the sticks launch himself into another save. The two sides couldn’t be separated and fans gathered excitedly behind the goal for the shootout.

The visitors netted their first spot kick, but Broughton’s Lewis Wright saw his effort saved.

Welshpool’s Teilo Gittins-Turner couldn’t take advantage and his kick was kept out, but he was given a reprieve after the referee deemed Thornton had left his line prematurely. The youngster lost his nerve and blazed his retaken effort into the car park.

Daniel Morris missed Welshpool’s next kick, allowing Broughton to go 2-1 up. Rhys Jones came out of goal to show his team how it was done by blasting in his side’s next kick before saving James Ratcliffe’s effort. A weak penalty by Ben Jenkins was easily saved by Thornton and Jake Jones kept his cool to send Broughton through to the next round.

BROUGHTON UNITED

Lewis Thornton
Thomas Beacher
Ricky Wilson
Cameron Jones
Nathan Swann-Jones
Lewis Wright
Rhys Baines
James Rutter
Jayden Evans
Elliott Evans (c)
Luke Muia
SUBS USED
James Ratcliffe
Lewis Hopwood
Jake Jones
Lewis Jones
Riley Griffiths