Archive Classics: Bethesda Athletic complete double with extra time victory to lift Cookson Cup (2008)

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

2007-08 COOKSON CUP FINAL

Bethesda Athletic 3 (Gowans 31, Joyce OG 54, R Owen 100)
Llanrug United 2 (Newell 30, Jarvis 51)
(after extra time)
April 2008

With the Welsh Alliance League title already in the bag, Bethesda Athletic made it a double by lifting the Cookson Cup at the expense of Llanrug United after extra time at Conwy’s Y Morfa ground

Aled Owen’s Llanrug could have won the cup inside the first 90 minutes but missed too many chances and to add to their woes substitute Marvin Pritchard suffered a broken leg during extra time when Bethesda grabbed the goal which clinched the trophy.

Llanrug flew out of the blocks and Athletic keeper David Clarke had to make a fine save from the lively Carl Griffiths after just two minutes.

David Noel Williams was just off target from 20 yards for the Caernarfon area side, then at the other end Richard Owen went close from a Glyn Lewis free-kick before the striker’s header clipped the top of the bar.

In the 11th minute a superb pass from David Noel Williams released Griffiths who volleyed over Clarke but the ball whistled inches wide.

Clarke struggled to hold Richard Evans’ fierce shot which took a nasty bounce off the surface, then Dan Pyrs’ low drive had the Pesda custodian at full stretch to prevent a goal.

When United took the lead on 30 minutes it was well-deserved. Noel Williams floated a free-kick to the back post from the left and Jonathan Newell climbed highest to head home.

Within a minute, however, Chris O’Neal’s side were level when Darren Gowans’ spectacular effort from the left wing sailed into the net beyond keeper Dave Ball.

Llanrug should have regained the lead just before the interval when Griffiths blasted over a gaping goal.

Six minutes into the second period the all-reds were back in front when Pyrs’ skidding delivery from the left into the box fell to Christian Jarvis whose control and finish was top class.

But just like the first time they scored, Llanrug were unable to defend their goal advantage.

On 54 minutes United failed to clear their lines and Dave Roberts’ shot from 10 yards went in off Jason Joyce to make it 2-2.

The game now tightened up and became more of a midfield battle. Pesda had a couple of close calls when Gareth Davies drove wide then Craig Roberts’ power hit was pushed away for a corner by Ball.

The final 10 minutes saw Llanrug come on strong. David Noel Williams should have done better when set up by Griffiths but scuffed his shot wide.

Then came the moment United should have won it. On 88 minutes Griffiths’ cross came to Evans six yards out but he lifted the ball over the bar.

The final went into extra time and there was a painful moment in the first period when Llanrug’s Pritchard had to be stretchered off following a crunching challenge and it was later revealed he had broken a leg in two places.

This seemed to affect the visitors, and in the 100th minute Ball did well to keep out Davies’ firm shot, but Richard Owen was following up to lash in the rebound and win the cup.

LLANRUG: Dave Ball, Christian Jarvis, Jason Joyce, Jonathan Newell, Eifion Williams, Carl Wayne Jones, Dan Pyrs (Marvin Pritchard 68 – Rheon Parry 94), David Noel Williams, Carl Griffiths, Richard Evans, Terry Williams.

BETHESDA: Line up not available – known names who played – David Clarke, Danny Wade, Carl Thomas, Darren Gowans, Craig Roberts, Richard Owen, Gareth Davies, Dave Roberts, Glyn Lewis. Possibles: Paul Dixon, Mally Vaughan, Darren Ishmael, Gavin Ishmael, Matty Hughes.

MATCH FACTS

GOALS: Bethesda 3 Llanrug 2
ATTEMPTS: Bethesda 14 Llanrug 14
ON TARGET: Bethesda 6 Llanrug 6
CORNERS: Bethesda 6 Llanrug 5
YELLOW CARDS: Bethesda 2 Llanrug 1
RED CARDS: Bethesda 0 Llanrug 0
ATTENDANCE: 215