Archive Classics: Bethesda Athletic 3 Rhyl 2 (2007/08)

Having covered North Wales football for close on 40 years. I’ve attended and reported on hundreds if not thousands of games across the pyramid. 

Here’s another in a series of classics from the archives

SEASON 2007-08

BETHESDA ATHLETIC 3 (G Davies 9 & 51, R Owen 65)
RHYL 2 (Vaughan OG 5, Roose 90+1)

NORTH WALES COAST CHALLENGE CUP QUARTER-FINAL
FEBRUARY 9, 2008

Quite a shock on a sunny afternoon at Parc Meurig as a Bethesda side on course for the Welsh Alliance League title knocked Welsh Premier visitors Rhyl out of the Coast Challenge Cup.
The Lilywhites fielded seven regular first teamers and dominated possession for long periods, but Chris O’Neal’s Pesda heroes were the more clinical in attack.
Athletic entered the tie full of confidence having won 16 games in a row, but did not enjoy the best of starts.
After just five minutes the unfortunate Malcolm Vaughan chipped his own keeper David Clarke to gift Rhyl the opening goal.
Only four minutes later, however, the all-blues were level when good approach work by Darren Gowans found Gareth Davies who cracked home a lovely shot in off the post via an acute angle from the right side of the area.
Rhyl were on top for the rest of the half, but tremendous Pesda defending, with Carl Thomas, Daniel Wade and Luke Williams particularly outstanding, prevented any further goals.
Half-Time: 1-1
If the visitors thought they were going to run away with it in the second period they were in for a rude awakening.
On 51 minutes first team defender Paul O’Neill gave the ball away, Gowans raced clear and although John Gann parried his shot the alert Davies was there to snap up the rebound.
Rhyl roared back but more brilliant last-ditch defending denied them an equaliser, Andy Booker twice being thwarted.
Then in the 65th minute Bethesda won a free-kick on the right, Gowans lifted the ball into the box and Richie Owen headed in to make it 3-1.
This seemed to visibly stun Rhyl and now Athletic were looking the more dangerous in attack.
Substitute Darren Ishmael raced clear of the defence, keeper Gann blocked his effort, but Gowans following up missed the target by inches.
As the Lilywhites pushed forward they were susceptible to the counter and Ishmael used his pace again to good effect but Gann smothered at his feet.
A minute into injury time home custodian Clarke collided with a group of players trying to clear a high delivery, the ball broke free and substitute Mike Roose slotted into an empty net, but that was it and Bethesda deservedly claimed their last four berth.
It was virtually impossible to pick a man of the match for the home team but Carl Thomas had to take massive plaudits for marking the experienced Davie Cameron out of the game.

Winning manager O’Neal said after the game: “I felt we deserved to win – we took our chances when they came. We defended deep at times, but felt comfortable doing so.
“I knew if we could get in behind their full-backs we could expose them and so it proved. We gave them their first goal and the second could easily have been disallowed after the collision, but we’re really happy to be in the semi-finals.”

Bethesda Athletic

David Clarke, Luke Williams, Malcolm Vaughan, Danny Wade, Carl Thomas, Gavin Ishmael (Pritchard 87), Danny Roberts, Craig Roberts, Gareth Davies (Darren Ishmael 80), Richie Owen, Darren Gowans. Other subs: Gari Thomas, Jones.

Rhyl

John Gann, Ahern, Scott Millington, Paul O’Neill, Adam France, Craig Garside, Michael White, Gareth Wilson, Andy Booker, Davie Cameron, Phil Coffin. Sub used: Mike Roose.

ATTENDANCE: 110