Bro march on with revenge for hammering
REVENGE was sweet for Bro Goronwy as they marched into the NWCFA Junior Cup last 16 with a thrilling 3-2 win at a Bodedern Athletic side they had lost to 8-1 in a Gwynedd League clash at the start of the season.
After that August hammering at Cae Nerys, it was the real Bro that stood up in this cup battle at Cae Ty Cristion as they matched the hosts in physicality and playing ability to come away with a hard-fought triumph.
The first half of the tie was a game of two halves in itself, Bro starting brighter from the opening exchanges but Boded working their way back into the match and applying the pressure up to the interval.
Athletic’s Daniel Owen sent his early shot high into the sky but it was the visitors that looked for a breakthrough, controlling play at times and using their youthful pace to create chances.
Andy Williams’ low cross was crowded out before Jac Thomas could pounce with Connor Jones off target from the rebound before Williams and Thomas were again both involved in putting Bro into the lead after 14 minutes.
Thomas was sent crashing in the box allowing Williams to send stopper John Aaron Jones the wrong way, planting his penalty kick low into the net.
Graham Jones was unlucky not to further enhance Bro’s lead, denied from a 25-yard free kick only by Jones’ palm onto the crossbar and then wayward with an inviting chance from only six yards out.
Bodedern’s Ryan Taylor’s run ended in a low shot inches wide before he was involved in the leveller
Battling with midfielder Dan Fairhead before sending a ball over the visitors defence, Mathew Jones latched onto the pass and drilled past Jonny Sweetser-Hawkes for his 23rd goal of the season to make it 1-1 at the break.
The second period was more of a battle than the first with challenges flying in, on and off the ball, some going punished and others being let go by the match official.
Bodedern’s back-line struggled to cope with the visitors attacking flurries as 17-year-old Thomas showed them a clean set of heels on 58 minutes.
Connor Jones’ accurate through ball sent Thomas in the clear and the youngster never looked like failing to score, coolly slotting past the outrushing glovesman.
The teenager was at it again with 20 minutes of the tie remaining, another Connor Jones strong challenge sending Thomas the wrong side of the defence, and this time he slotted low into the net for 3-1 to the visitors.
Sweetser-Hawkes kept Bro with breathing space on 75 minutes, flinging himself to his left at full stretch to tip away Casey Boylan’s .set-piece. A single lapse of concentration gave utes, Bodedernpulling the hope match after back 86 to min- 3-2, with defender Sam Regan unaware of Ryan Jones’ closing down to intercept and giving an easy chance for Jordan Taylor to set up a grandstand finish. Goronwy continued to put every-thing on the line to thwart the final attacking onslaughts, preventing the hosts any clear cut chances. The home side’s Casey Boylan received his marching orders in stoppage time.