My 10 favourite North Wales Coast FA Junior Challenge Cup Finals

This weekend the 118th NORTH WALES COAST FA JUNIOR CHALLENGE CUP FINAL takes place at Y Morfa in Conwy.

There will definitely be a new name on the trophy this season as neither of Saturday’s finalists, Llandyrnog United or Mountain Rangers, have ever won the competition before.

Grassroots North Wales editor Dave Jones has either watched or covered about 20 Junior Cup finals dating back to 1979.

Here, he chooses his All-Time 10 Favourite Junior Cup Finals.

1 – 2012-13 Y Felinheli 4-3 Menai Bridge Tigers (Nantporth Stadium, Bangor)

Caernarfon and District League side Y Felinheli, who had never lifted the Junior Cup before, met Anglesey League outfit Menai Bridge Tigers, winners of the competition a record eight times, in the 2013 final at Nantporth Stadium, Bangor.
The deadlock was broken on 34 minutes when Sion Griffith’s delivery from the left was glanced home by the head of Tom Davies to give Felin a deserved half-time lead.
In the 50th minute Felin keeper Mark Jones fumbled Sam Faulkner’s shot and Gareth Barker toe-poked in the equaliser.
The all-reds were soon back in front,  when the unfortunate Faulkner back-headed Aled Hughes’ free-kick into his own net.
Back came Menai and on 57 minutes Lance Williams applied an exquisite finish to level it
In the 70th minute the islanders went in front for the first time when Williams’ unstoppable shot brought him a 59th goal in all competitions that season.
Felinheli refused to lie down, and made it all square on 73 minutes when Aled Griffith drove in from close range.
Felin grabbed the winner on 78 minutes, when Alun Williams’ superb first touch put him clear to lash home the decider.
After the match, Felinheli manager, the late and much-loved Euron Davies, described the final as his most memorable moment in charge of the club to date.
He said: “Two of the best teams I reckon have played at that level to go head to head in the final at Nantporth on a lovely Friday evening, Felinheli coming out on top. What more could I wish for?”

2 – 2010-11 Point of Ayr 6-4 Trearddur Bay (aet – Y Morfa, Conwy)

What a goal-packed thriller this was!
Clwyd League Division One high-flyers Point of Ayr locked horns with that season’s Anglesey League champions, Trearddur Bay.
Two of North Wales’ most prolific strikers were in opposition this day at Y Morfa – Bay’s 94-goal wizard Asa Thomas, and the Colliers’ deadly hitman Darren Hughes, on 73 for the campaign.
Thomas edged Bay in front, but Point rallied to lead 3-1 through Simon Fawcett, Mike Jones and danger man Hughes.
Bay then blitzed their way back in front with three more goals from Thomas, one a penalty, which put him on 98 goals in 2010-11 and gave the Ynys Môn side a 4-3 lead.
There was another twist, however, with Mike Jones finding the net to restore parity and force extra time.
And Point of Ayr had the staying power to clinch the cup in the added half hour, Brett Johns (pen) and Jake Hughes guiding them home.

3 – 1978-79 Llanrug 6-3 Menai Bridge (aet – The Oval, Caernarfon)

This was the first Junior Cup Final I ever attended as a 13-year-old.
My main memory of the day was the huge crowd at The Oval. No attendance figure was given out on the day, so anyone who was there would have to use their imagination.
It was an amazing final at which to make one’s baptism as a fan.
Locals Llanrug roared into a 3-0 lead courtesy of Len Padmore and a double from Hefin Jones, who scored either side of half time.
Tigers then produced a great fightback to make it 3-3, Malcolm Trigg (2) and Hefin Rowlands on target.
So extra time was needed, making this classic great value for the paying customer – I think admission was 20p for adults and free for people like me (children).
Llanrug took control in extra time, Vernon Lloyd, Dick Owen and Hefin Jones (pen) seeing them to victory.

4 – 2014-15 Llandudno Albion 4-2 Trearddur Bay Reserves (aet – Nantporth, Bangor)

A floodlit final at Nantporth where new side Albion were chasing a treble.
The Llandudno team needed extra time to see off a stubborn Trearddur Bay Reserves at what was then known as The Book People Stadium.
The deadlock was broken on 36 minutes when Albion’s Mark Montgomery struck with an absolute left-foot beauty from 25 yards.
In the 53rd minute Bay were back on terms when Jordan Jones netted from 12 yards.
Extra time was required, and Albion appeared to have more in the tank.
Four minutes into the first period Joel Lloyd headed home from a corner.
Two minutes later substitute Mike Chapman threaded a lovely pass to Montgomery, who superbly chipped the advancing keeper for his 38th goal of the season.
Still Trearddur refused to fold and a mix-up in the Albion defence allowed Dave Webb to nip in and make it 3-2.
However, the argument was settled in the 117th minute when Dave Maddock scored with an exquisite 22-yarder. They think it’s all over…it is now – it’s four!

5 – 2011-12 Morawelon 4-1 Talysarn Celts (at Nantporth, Bangor)

What stood out to me on this day was the quality of football Tier 6 side Morawelon of Holyhead produced.
The islanders played a dazzling style of attacking fare rarely associated with the lower end of the pyramid.
Goals from Jon Woolgar, Chris Dewett, direct from a corner, and Dale Murphy (2) booked a well-deserved win for Moraz, whose man of the match, goalkeeper Nick Murphy, saved a penalty.
While I had no qualms with Nick winning MoTM, my personal choice would have been Morawelon’s Gary Jo Owen, whose skills on the ball and sharpness against those around him were different class.
Talysarn played well and had their moments too, Rob Daniels scoring their consolation.
Derek Thomas and Ian Hughes were the Morawelon managers on the day. Great team, much missed.

6 – 2008-09 Trearddur Bay United 2-1 St Asaph City (aet – at Central Park, Denbigh)

In their debut season in Saturday football, Trearddur Bay lifted the most prestigious cup realistically available to them.
On a gorgeous sunny afternoon at Denbigh Town’s ground, a cracking crowd gathered to see Anglesey League outfit Bay clash with St Asaph City of the Clwyd League, managed by accomplished former players Graham Hunter and Lee Hogg.
Yet again, a Junior Cup final needed extra time to decide a winner.
Barry Haigh and Craig Brodie delivered the goals which secured the trophy for Chris Davies’ Ynys Môn men, Duncan Midgley responding for Saints.

7 – 1998-99 Abergele 2-2 Prestatyn Town Reserves (Abergele won on pens) – Belle Vue Rhyl

While I was at this thrilling final between two well-matched Clwyd League teams, I do not have access to the associated match report.
What I do remember on the day was Abergele’s top scorer of that season, Andy Davies, scoring twice.
I cannot recall the Prestatyn scorers, only that they played in green, the names Tony Palframan and John Eves buzz around in my head, but the final went to penalties and Gele came out on top. Frank Woods was the Abergele manager.

8 – 2002-03 Castle Rhuddlan 2-1 Bethel (at Y Morfa, Conwy)

Sub George Collier headed home the winning goal for Clwyd League side Castle Rhuddlan on a pleasant evening in Conwy.
Caernarfon and District League side Bethel took the lead with a Barry Love header, but the prolific Jamie Allen (I’m 90% sure of this) levelled matters before Collier delivered the decider.
The Caernarfon-area side were Junior Cup holders, but were denied back-to-back glory by a hard-working and experienced Castle side, who had won the Clwyd League Division Two title the previous season and finished Division One runners-up on goal difference behind champions Prestatyn Town Reserves in 2002-03.

9 – 1987-88 Holyhead Town 2-1 Llandegfan (AET. After 1-1 draw – at Parc Meurig, Bethesda)

This final took place in my first season as a news/sports journalist.
I didn’t see the first game, which ended 1-1. Ifan Thomas put Llandegfan ahead before Steve Chorlton (Chow) equalised for Holyhead Town to force a replay.
I attended the second match and a very popular figure whose famous son-to-be was not yet born, was a key figure.
Jimmy Thomas – dad of Asa – struck first for the Harbourmen on 68 minutes, but Stephen Morris soon equalised for Llandegfan.
The match went to extra time and it was Thomas who notched the 100th minute winner.

10 – 1990-91 Gwalchmai 2-1 Penrhos United (at Bangor)

Here was a rarity – a Junior Cup final which ended in normal time, but only just!
Tony Owen gave Penrhos a half time lead, and it took a very bizarre own goal to bring Gwalchmai level after the break. When it’s your day…..
In the dying moments, the Ynys Môn villagers snatched it through a free kick – it was scored by Keith Evans, son of future goal machine Marc (Loggs) Evans, who was barely one year old when this final took place!