Welsh Cup Match of the Day: Hawarden Rangers v Llangoed and District
FAW WELSH CUP FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND – JULY 25, 2026
Hawarden Rangers 2 (Haydn Cartwright 37, Joe Hancock 54)
Llangoed & District 1 (George Lewis 90+3)
Attendance: 90 (headcount)
Report: SHAUN BEST
Hawarden Rangers ensured there was no upset at the Gladstone, as they progressed in the Welsh Cup following a 2-1 victory against Tier 5 Llangoed & District.
In all fairness, the scoreline should have been higher in favour of the Tier 4 hosts. Ultimately they will be happy to be in the hat for the next round.
The recent heatwaves have left pitches resembling sights more akin to a barn, but at grassroots level it’s very much game on.
Hawarden lined up with a slight height advantage and immediately put the visitors under pressure. Winger Thomas Bridges proved lively and was camped in the Llangoed half long enough to be charged rent. Despite their early dominance, the home side failed to get anyone on the end of several dangerous balls into the opposition box.
Visiting goalkeeper Rhys Owen turned a Bridges grasscutter round his near post but Hawarden soon found the breakthrough. This time Bridges turned provider, with his corner finding Haydn Cartwright at the far post. The defender got his chest to the ball and it went past everyone on its way into the net.
Llangoed’s Harvey Jones channelled his inner Michael Owen to burst clear and get his head on the ball before home goalkeeper Joseph O’Connor could clear, only for the referee to pull play back for a late offside decision. The Llangoed players were incensed at being denied a golden opportunity for an equaliser and went into the break a goal down.
Hawarden doubled their advantage within ten minutes of the restart. Joe Hancock expertly controlled a low ball in the box and sent his effort beyond Owen, who got a touch but couldn’t stop the ball from rolling in.
The hosts opted to penetrate the right flank, with Callum Cartwright proving up to the task. After stinging Owen’s palms with an angled drive, Cartwright danced his way into the box, rode a cynical kick and laid off for Bridges to drag his effort wide.
At the other end, Llangoed’s Cameron Owen failed to take advantage of time and space in the box, as O’Connor narrowed the angle and blocked.
Hawarden substitutes Harri Phythian and Lucas Brick combined with the latter opting to go for glory instead of rolling across to an unmarked Cartwright in the box. Owen absorbed Brick’s effort then denied Phythian moments later with an outstretched leg.
Callum Cartwright took centre stage during the closing stages. After tormenting a leggy defence with a mazy run, he couldn’t find a finish and his shot flew over the bar. The wide man created space for himself again only to shoot weakly at a grateful Owen from close range.
Llangoed netted deep into stoppage time after Dylan Jones pulled the ball back for substitute George Lewis to smash home from close range. Ultimately it was too little too late.