NWCFA Junior Cup quarter-finals: Victories for Llanfairpwll, Aberffraw and Llandyrnog
NWCFA JUNIOR CHALLENGE CUP QUARTER-FINALS – NOV 8
Llysfaen 1 Llandyrnog United 1 (Llandyrnog won 5-4 on pens)
Underdogs Llysfaen faced the heartbreak of a penalty shootout loss after they had largely dominated Saturday’s quarter-final at the Bananabeu.
Dyrny had comfortably beaten Faen 4-0 in a league encounter back in August, but it was a different story in the cup as the hosts produced a performance deserving of victory.
Llysfaen had the better chances and it was they who deservedly broke the deadlock on 51 minutes, Paul Vinall scoring from the spot.
After that United pressed hard for an equaliser, but the home team defended really well and had a couple of opportunities to extend their lead.
Finally, with four minutes of the 90 left, Alfie Harrison levelled for Llandyrnog to force penalties.
And it was the Vale of Clwyd villagers who edged the verdict 5-4, leaving Llysfaen to reflect on what might have been.
Ryan Fox produced the vital penalty save for the visitors which made all the difference. Steffan Jones converted the decisive kick.
Holyhead Town 1 Llanfairpwll 3
Four-time Junior Cup winners Llanfairpwll came out on top in Saturday’s Anglesey derby thanks to two very late goals.
It was a game where the conditions had a big say.
In the first half, Holyhead Town had the wind and attacked Llanfair’s goal, forcing lots of corners,
Llanfair struggled to get out of their half at times but defended well and Gethin Griffith made some good saves.
The visitors had a goal disallowed for a coming together with the keeper in a set piece around the 30-minute mark.
Holyhead eventually broke the deadlock around minute 45 when a long ball from Mike Edwards was flicked on by Festus Osagie to put Craig Moore through one-v-one and he scored.
Second half was a similar story but in Llanfair’s favour. Jason Williams scored directly from a corner kick on the hour and the travellers continued to push, hitting the post and going close a few other times.
Eventually, ‘Pwll went 2-1 up in the 92nd minute from a wonder strike by Gethin Owen from 25 yards. Ashley Davies put Llanfair 3-1 up in the 95th after a through ball from 16 year old Jack Evans left him in on goal
CPD Henllan 1 CPD Aberffraw 2
Aberffraw ensured two island teams will feature in the semi-finals after a hard-fought success at North Wales Coast East hosts Henllan.
A Liam Davies own goal on 21 minutes put Berffro one-up and Andy Clarke’s 11th goal of the season after 40 gave the away team a two-goal interval advantage.
Elgan Hughes hit back for Henllan from an Owen Sidney assist on 79, but Aberffraw held on for the victory, despite having Josh Roberts red-carded after 95.
- The last quarter-final takes place this Saturday with CPD Mountain Rangers hosting CPD Deiniolen.