Mike Edwards the last-gasp hero as Holyhead Town lift cup after seven-goal thriller

2025-26 MENAI TRACTORS CUP FINAL – MAY 8, 2026

CPD Mountain Rangers 3 (A Williams 38, 75, D Hughes 90+7)
Holyhead Town 4 (Haigh 36, D Williams 90+2, S Davies 90+4, Edwards 119)

Up the Harbourmen! The 2025-26 Cwpan Menai Tractors winners!

Holyhead Town lifted their first cup since 2016-17 after edging a seven-goal thriller at Cae Rhosfain on Friday night.

This all-North Wales Coast West League Division One classic will long live in the memory – especially for Holyhead fans.

Town got off to a strong start against the NWCFA Junior Challenge Cup holders, creating early chances through Craig Moore and Sion Davies.

Midway through the first half. Holyhead’s top-scoring striker Moore was forced off due to injury and was replaced by Zack Haigh.

And Haigh made an instant impact. A Mike Edwards pass cut straight through the Rangers defence to find the run of Sion Davies, whose square ball was slotted home by Haigh at close range.

Rangers rallied and hit back straight away through Aeron Williams when Town failed to clear a corner. Half-time: 1-1.

The second half got underway with Town looking the more likely to score. Sion Davies hitting the post after a good move.

With the game drifting with neither side looking likely to score a Town mistake was pounced on by Rangers to take a 2-1 lead, Williams the scorer again.

The Caernarfon side was looking in control and frustrating Town, and the match looked like it was getting away from the Harbourmen.

Town, with a last throw of the dice, introduced 44-year-old veteran Dave ‘Ago’ Williams to try to inject some energy into the final minutes.

And it worked. With the clock ticking into injury time, Town were awarded a corner, which was floated in and headed home by Dave Williams to level the game with 92 on the clock.

The final had totally swung in Town’s favour and when the ball fell to Sion Davies he hammered home in the 95th for a 3-2 lead – sending the Holyhead fans into delirium!

However, in the dying seconds, Mountain Rangers were awarded one last free kick just inside the Town half.

Nathan Craig’s drilled ball was missed by the Town defence and turned home by captain Dan Hughes to make it 3-3 in the 98th minute, this time sending the Rangers supporters wild.

Theshowpiece headed to extra time and both teams struggled to create any clear chances. With tired legs on both sides it looked like the final was going to penalties.

But with a minute on the clock the ball landed to Mike Edwards in the Rangers box and his shot across the keeper found its way in at the back post to spark massive celebrations.

So often a hero of Holyhead football in the past, Edwards created one of his greatest football memories on May 8, 2026.

HOLYHEAD TOWN

Steffan Parry, Tony Meyer, Sion Jones, Adam Taylor (c), Craig Moore, Aneurin Saunderson, Declan Jones, Charlie Diamond, Sion Davies, Adam Morris, Mike Edwards. Subs used: Matty Rowlands, Dave ‘Ago’ Williams, Zack Haigh. Unused subs: Lewis Heywood, Mathew Griffin.

CPD MOUNTAIN RANGERS

Jason Hughes, Elis Lloyd Jones, Llion Roberts, Daniel Hughes (c), Dion Griffiths, Cai Owen, Daniel Owen, Aeron Wyn Williams, Josh Humphreys, Josh Williams, Mark Williams. Subs used: Morgan Jones, Leam Hughes, Peter Evans, Nathan Craig. Unused sub: Sion Viney.

REFEREE: William Gareth Parry