Heroic Welsh Cup exit has only further inspired Rhyl 1879’s amazing bouncebackability!

Ben Lightfoot specialises in winning goals for the Lilywhites

JD CYMRU NORTH – MARCH 17, 2026

Brickfield Rangers 1 (Neto 66)
CPD Y Rhyl 1879 2 (Murray 43, Lightfoot 90+1)

Since their heroic Welsh Cup semi-final exit to Caernarfon Town on March 8, Rhyl 1879 have really shown what they are made of.

After the disappointment of going so close to reaching the final of Wales’ biggest domestic knockout competition, it would have been easy to drop heads, but back-to-back away wins at Flint Mountain and Brickfield Rangers have reflected the tremendous spirit and belief in Paul Moore and Ronnie Green’s squad.

Tuesday’s victory at Clywedog Park yet again displayed the Lilywhites’ ability to keep going till the very end, with once more the golden boot of Ben Lightfoot delivering the 91st minute winner.

This was Rhyl’s third meeting with Brickfield this season and all have been very close, but the Denbighshire side have had the better of things with two wins and a draw.

Indeed, since they formed in 2021-22, 1879 are undefeated in all seven clashes with Brickie – four wins and three draws.

Tuesday’s triumph sees the Lilywhites fifth in Cymru North – a very impressive performance in their debut season at Tier 2 level.

Magical Morgan Murray. Picture: FAW

Rhyl took a 43rd minute lead through a fantastic 20-yard free kick from Morgan Murray, a player who has been in outstanding form.

Rangers are never ones to give up and they equalised on 66 minutes when Gerson Silva Neto found the net from a Jack Edwards assist.

It looked set to end all-square until a minute into added time, that man Murray was the chance supplier for Lightfoot to bag his 11th goal of the campaign.

LATE WINNERS FOR RHYL 1879 THIS SEASON

March 17, 2026: Ben Lightfoot 91st minute, 2-1 win at Brickfield
March 1, 2026: Damase Kiwanda 86th minute, 3-2 win home to Ruthin
January 1, 2026: Archie Jones 89th minute, Jack Parry 93rd minute, 3-1 win home to Llandudno (the leaders’ only league defeat this season in 25 matches)
December 20, 2025: Archie Jones 90+4, Damase Kiwanda 90+5, 2-1 win at Buckley Town
December 13, 2025: Ben Lightfoot 90+1, 2-1 Welsh Cup win at Porthmadog
August 25, 2025: Archie Jones 76th min, 4-3 win over Holyhead Hotspur. Rhyl led 3-0 but pegged back to 3-3.
July 19, 2025: Paul Fleming 87th min, 2-1 victory against Caersws in the Nathaniel MG Cup