WBS LEAGUE CUP/CYMRU NORTH: Joy for Airbus and Mold, Llandudno regain top spot

WELSH BLOOD SERVICE LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINAL

Airbus UK Broughton 3 Newtown 1

Airbus remained on course for a league and cup double as they reached back-to-back WBS northern finals with a hard-earned victory over Newtown at the Hollingsworth Group Stadium.

The Wingmakers produced a few opportunities in the first half, Danny Warren forcing a save from keeper Dave Jones, but it was the Robins that made the breakthrough on 42 minutes.

Robbie Evans won a second ball and fed Jamie Hyne, whose shot was too powerful for Keighan Jones as the Airbus ‘keeper managed to get a hand to it, but was unable to prevent it finding the net.

In first half stoppage time, the hosts pushed hard for an equaliser and produced it with 48 minutes on the slock.

Mason Blackwell-Jones played a ball into Jordan Evans who twisted and turned as he cut inside from the right and placed a shot into the far corner to get Airbus back on level terms.

Mark Allen’s side, visibiy buoyed by that equaliser, made a strong start to the second half.

On 49 minutes, Blackwell-Jones tracked down a loose ball and found Jordan Evans, whose perfect delivery was volleyed home by Warren.

With 15 minutes remaining, Airbus made their first substitution as recent signing Jake Roberts replaced Kaiden Cooke.

It did not take long for Roberts to get his name on the scoresheet with his first touch of the game. A long forward punt from Kieran Evans was chased by Roberts and he hit it first time, lobbing keeper Jones and rippling the net.

Warren almost added a fourth when his late effort came back off the post.

Airbus managed to see out late Newtown pressure and progress to the northern final and national semis.

JD CYMRU NORTH

Mold Alexandra 2 Denbigh Town 1

Mold’s new loan signing Max McGoona was a goalscoring hero on debut as the Alex celebrated their first win in nine matches,

With Alyn Park unfit due to the weather, the game was moved to Flint’s Essity Stadium.

Denbigh threatened early when Matthew Worrall beat his man on the left flank before crossing for Nathan Brown, whose close range effort crashed off the crossbar.

After seven minutes it was Mold who took the lead. A corner was swung in from the left which Oli Farebrother punched away, only for the ball to drop to Henry Nash who lashed it through a crowd of bodies to take the lead.

Town continued to press and went agonisngly close on 15 minutes when Worrall released Owen Davies one one one but from an angle his effort was tipped wide by goalkeeper Joe Smith.

A flurry of chances continued for Denbigh but no equaliser arrived.

For all the pressure, it was Mold who doubled the advantage. A long ball over the top wasn’t dealt with and youngster McGoona, on loan from Colwyn Bay, got the wrong side of Dan Davies before finishing smartly.

Town went close a couple of times after the interval before on the hour mark Jac Humphreys was introduced for his debut.

He made a great first impression, feeding Mike Pearson, whose excellent ball found Davies and in turn Nathan Brown, who with 64 minutes on the clock, swept the ball into the top right corner just inside the area.

Now it was game on. More excellent movement saw Worrall have an effort stopped inside the box before, with 20 minutes to play, the same man adjusted well inside the area before again being denied.

A third strike in the space of five minutes from Worrall was again thwarted after Humphreys’ brilliant through ball.

Time was rapidly running out and Denbigh had one last chance as Jones’ cross eventually fell to Davies who on the edge of the box lifted his shot just above the bar, which proved to be the final act of a frustrating afternoon for the visitors.

Llandudno 2 Brickfield Rangers 0

Two second-half goals eventually delivered victory for Llandudno, who return to the top of the table after a hard-fought battle with Brickfield on Friday night,

The deadlock was broken in the 56th minute when Thomas Stephens made it 1-0 to the Seasiders.

It was not until the 88th minute that the points were sealed when Ben Maher scored direct from a corner.