MATCH OF THE DAY: Late equaliser grabs Corwen rare point against Cefn Albion

ARDAL NORTH EAST – MARCH 21, 2026

Corwen 3 (Davies 18, Wills 46, Rainbird 90+3)
Cefn Albion 3 (Gibbins 9, Williams 23, Teixeira 55)

Match information/photos: Gavin Billington

James Rainbird’s 93rd minute equaliser rescued a draw for Corwen in a battle of familiar rivals at the War Memorial Park.

The home side had lost all five previous Tier 3 meetings with the Albion since 2021-22, but Rainbird’s late intervention stopped the rot.

Cefn took an early lead when Thomas Broadhurst ran down the wing with the ball, which he just about kept in play before crossing to Alex Williams, who played in Dion Gibbins, and he slotted into the bottom corner in the ninth minute.

Nine minutes later Cefn goalkeeper Mark Richards saved a shot from Rainbird and James Davies was first to react to level the scores.

The scores were not level for long, as in the 22nd minute Nic Jones flicked the ball forward before delivering to Alex Williams, who netted his 18th goal of the season at the far post.

Lewis Wills went in search of a second equaliser as he got on the end of a Henry Evans cross, but saw his effort saved.

In the closing stages of the opening period Rainbird got through on goal, but could only bring the best out of Richards.
In stoppage time the ball was flicked to Gibbins, who sent his effort high and wide of the target.

HALF-TIME: Corwen 1-2 Cefn Albion

Right from the restart it was all-square as Rainbird ran towards the Cefn box before finding Wills, who made it two-apiece.

With 59 on the clock, Broadhurst played the ball to Edgar Teixeira, who got beyond Corwen’s Benjamin Wilson-Davies and lined up a shot which he sent beyond keeper Evan Parry to give Cefn the lead for a third time.

As the game entered the final quarter hour Henry Evans played a corner short to Rainbird, who ran at goal and unleashed a low shot, which was saved at the near post by the Cefn number one.

Substitute Tom Williams and starter Wills were again denied by good Richards stops as time ran out for Corwen.

In stoppage time Alex Williams tried to seal the win in spectacular fashion, but saw his overhead kick ping narrowly wide of the post.

Three minutes into added time, possession was played back to Rainbird, who from outside the penalty area whipped the ball back into the box, which curled up into the air and dropped into the back of the net at the far post for a brilliant equaliser – his seventh goal in 11 outings.

CORWEN

Evan Parry, Oscar Mills, Kian Harrison, Paul Jones, Ben Wilson-Davies, Callum Brady-Rainey, Scott Evans (c), Henry Evans, Lewis Wills, James Davies, James Rainbird. Subs used: Liam Marshall, Dillon Griffiths, Tom Williams, Ryan Billington

CEFN ALBION

Mark Richards, Caidan Griffith, Keenan Bathers, Tyler Wilkinson, Nic Jones (c), Wes Parry, Leighton Kendrick, Dion Gibbins, Alex Williams, Edgar Lima Teixeira, Thomas Broadhurst. Subs used: Lee Hughes, Simon Ihtell, Osian Morris, Cruz Jones, Luke Hughes.