WELSH CUP MATCH OF THE DAY: Meliden cause big upset with win over higher-tier Cerrig

FAW WELSH CUP SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND

Meliden 2 (O’Carroll 27, Weir pen 90+1)
CPD Cerrigydrudion 2 (Vaughan Evans 22, Griffiths 34)
(Meliden won 4-3 on penalties)

Drama at The Mine ended with Meliden reaching the first round proper of the Welsh Cup for the first time in the club’s history.

The Tier 5 Miners pulled off a giant-killing on Saturfday as they knocked out fourth-tier Cerrigydrudion on spot-kicks after a 2-2 draw.

Cerrig started the stronger side with talisman Tirion Griffiths posing a lot of aerial threat from long balls, but it was the hosts who had first shot when Tom Weir fired just wide of the post.

In the 22nd minute the visitors took the lead. Cerrig won a corner after a great tackle by Cale Kemp. The flag-kick was poorly cleared by Meliden and Alun Vaughan Evans thumped a shot into the back of the net.

That lead lasted five minutes as Paul Brady played a peach of a ball through to Loui O’Carroll whose perfect strike found the bottom corner.

Cerrig edged back ahead on 34 minutes when another long ball was won by Griffiths who drilled home to make it 2-1 at the break.

Words were said in the home dressing room at half time and Meliden came out fighting after the interval, Weir and Aaron Boyle going close.

Brady and Boyle were starting to control the game now and a pass from the latter set up Ashley Seddon whose shot cannoned off the post in the 70th minute.

The introduction of Luke Snape and Hari Taylor spurred Meliden on even more. Snape teed up O’Carroll who blasted over the bar.

Then in the 90th minute a Weir strike was handed in the area – penalty.

Weir stepped up to find the bottom corner – 2-2.

Only a great stop from home keeper Richard Hillier-Evans denied Cerrig a late decider.

Penalties it was and with “Pink Panther” Hillier-Evans producing two fantastic saves, Snape put away the all-important winner to clinch the tie.