FAW AMATEUR TROPHY: Prestatyn, Llangefni, Llannefydd and Phoenix all reach last eight

DRAGON SIGNS FAW AMATEUR TROPHY ROUND FOUR

AFC Wattstown 1 (Cartwright 62)
Prestatyn Town 1 (Walker 52)
(Prestatyn Town won 4-2 on penalties)

Report: Mason Houldsworth

Prestatyn Town are traditionally successful in penalty shoot-outs and proved this again as they progressed to the Amateur Trophy quarter-finals on spot-kicks.
Gareth Thomas’ side were given a big test by Tier 5 underdogs AFC Wattstown of the South Wales Premier League Championship, but after a 1-1 draw the Seasiders eventually won the day on pens.
It was an absorbing afternoon at The Oval Ynyshir, some 170 miles from the North Wales coast club’s home.
With an outfielder in goal, eight yellow cards, a sending off and a dramatic shootout, there was no shortage of entertainment in a contest that ebbed and flowed throughout.
The visitors began the game brightly, enjoying plenty of possession and winning several free-kicks inside the Wattstown half. However, despite early promise, they were unable to seriously test goalkeeper Tom Morse during his brief time between the posts.
The hosts made their intentions clear early on, collecting a couple of bookings inside the opening half-hour as they looked to disrupt Prestatyn’s rhythm and turn the contest into a scrappy affair.
A pivotal moment arrived after 35 minutes when Wattstown shot-stopper Morse was forced off with a finger injury. With no recognised goalkeeper on the bench, the hosts handed the gloves to their star striker Leon Anstee – a decision that would later prove inspired.
Sensing an opportunity, Prestatyn attempted to put the makeshift goalkeeper under pressure. Alex Jones and James Stevens both tried their luck from distance, but neither effort found the target.
Tempers flared as half-time approached, with Connor Williams of Wattstown and Town’s Casey Faulkner both entering the referee’s book before the whistle sounded.

Half-time: AFC Wattstown 0–0 Prestatyn Town

Prestatyn made a strong start to the second half and were rewarded shortly after the restart. A free-kick was won in a dangerous position, and Jake Walker stepped up to deliver a moment of quality, curling an unstoppable strike into the top-right corner to put the visitors ahead.
Wattstown responded superbly. Continuing to battle and make life difficult for the Seasiders, their persistence paid off when Geraint Cartwright delivered into the box. Whether intended as a shot or a cross, the ball looped over Adam Reid and into the net, sending the home side into raptures.
The momentum shifted again just minutes later when Ellis Morgan received his second yellow card, reducing Wattstown to 10 men. Given the number of fouls and bookings throughout the contest, the sending-off felt almost inevitable.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, the hosts refused to alter their approach and continued to compete fiercely. Prestatyn manager Thomas introduced Zebb Edwards, Antonio Jacovelli and Tom Cardias-Williams in search of a winner, and the Seasiders created several good openings. Anstee produced an impressive save on one occasion, while other chances drifted narrowly wide.
Wattstown also threatened late on, but their attempts failed to trouble Reid, and the match moved to a penalty shootout.

PENALTIES

Parry stepped up first for Prestatyn, but Anstee guessed correctly, diving low to his left to make the save. The hosts then had the chance to take an early advantage, but Reid responded in kind, denying Williams with a strong stop to his right.
Zebb Edwards converted confidently for Town, sending his effort into the bottom-left corner to make it 1–0. Reid then produced another crucial save, again diving low to his left to thwart Cartwright, swinging momentum firmly in Prestatyn’s favour.
Walker and captain Alex Jones both converted for the Seasiders, while Daniel Price and Joe Price kept Wattstown in contention.
However, it was Jacovelli who stepped up to score the decisive penalty, sealing a dramatic shootout victory and sending Prestatyn Town into the next round.

Llangefni Town 2 Penrhiwceiber Rangers 1

Ifan Mansoor was the toast of Llangefni after his 93rd minute decider put the Anglesey side into the last eight.
The only Ynys Môn side to win th FAW Trophy, back in 1991-92 when known as the Welsh Intermediate Cup, Cefni have continued to regularly perform well in this national competition for teams Tier 3 and below.
Mansoor joined Town from Llanberis at the start of this season and his eighth goal for Sion Eifion Jones’ side so far was by far his most important.
Taking on Ardal South West outfit Penrhiwceiber at Cae Bob Parry, Llangefni were unable to make the breakthrough in the first half and it was not until the 70th minute that the deadlock ended.
Cameron Jones found the net to make it 1-0 to the hosts.
Rangers were not finished, though, and levelled in the 81st minute through Jack Thomas via a Harvey Hughes assist.
Penalties were looming, but three minutes into stoppage time Mansoor produced the finish that won a well-contested tie between two evenly-matched teams.

CPD Llannefydd 2 Port Talbot Town 0

A very competitive encounter completed in fading light saw Llannefydd of Ardal North West knock out Trophy holders Port Talbot in reaching the quarter-finals.
After a goalless first half, Llan opened the scoring five minutes iinto the second period, Llion Morris netting his ninth net-finder of the season.
And the job was completed a minute into added time when Elgan Roberts converted a penalty.

Penmaenmawr Phoenix 2 Mumbles Rangers 0

In a scrappy encounter at Cae Sling, Phoenix scored the goals that mattered to complete a 100 percent success rate for the north in Saturday’s round four schedule.
Pen struck early in the third minute when Sion Williams, an October signing from NFA, finished off a Leigh Craven assist.
There was a long gap until the decisive second goal for the hosts – 83 minutes to be exact.
The clock was showing 86 when sub Elliot Jarvis netted, Dan Evans assisting.
Tier 4 West Wales Premier League hopefuls Mumbles Rangers, second in their league and on a 13-match unbeaten run before Saturday, gave it everything but it was not quite enough.
Veteran Jamie Jones was named Player of the Match for Penmaenmawr.

Other results

Pontardawe Town 2 Cwmbran Town 0
Porthcawl Town Ath 3 C K Swiss Valley 1
Bridgend Street 1 Treforest 1 (Bridgend Street won 4-3 on pens)
Fourth round – still to play
Dec 20: Llanrwst United v CPD Dinas Bangor City 1876