WELSH CUP ROUND FOUR: Rhyl 1879 edge tense battle at Y Traeth
JD WELSH CUP ROUND 4 – DECEMBER 13, 2025
Porthmadog 1 (Evans 31) CPD Y Rhyl 1879 2 (Parry 77, Lightfoot 90+1)
Ben Lightfoot delivered a 91st minute winner to send Rhyl 1879 into the Welsh Cup quarter-finals for the first time.
Tier 3 Porthmadog had led their Cymru North visitors since the 31st minute, but a magnificent Jack Parry finish levelled the tie on 77 before Lightfoot administered the killer blow.
Rhyl had a chance to take a first half lead when a Morgan Murray free kick picked out Reece Fairhurst at the back post, but the skipper was unable to keep his effort down.
Port edged in front just past the half-hour with a fine goal. Sam Reynolds fed the ball into the box low from the right and Osian Evans nipped in ahead of Lilywhites defender Tom Kemp before smartly avoiding the keeper and applying a classy finish from an angle.
Rhyl should have levelled when Murray lofted the ball into the box and Parry managed to find James Parr, who slotted wide of a gaping goal.
Early in the second half, Fairhurst nodded over at the back stick from a left-wing corner, then a Rhys Alun free kick at the other end was tipped beyond the bar by keeper Alex Swindell.
Josh Cooke held Lightfoot’s 20-yarder at the second attempt before Faihurst thwarted Reynolds with an heroic block after good work from Cai Jones.
Fairhurst launched into the box from the left, Lightfoot’s header was palmed out by Cooke, but sub Lewis Hodson was unable to convert the loose ball.
With 13 minutes remaining, last season’s Ardal North West champions were level.
Daniel Wood did well to win the ball on the right and find Murray whose precision pass was controlled and finished in the same movement by the excellent Parry.
A penalty shoot out was looming until the visitors grabbed the decider.
A fine Parry run led to sub Damase Kiwanda having a shot blocked before he supplied a decisive pass across the face of goal where Lightfoot could not miss.
Joy for the Lilywhites and hard lines on Porthmadog.