Callum provides the key finishing touch
BRO Goronwy advanced to round two of the Gwynedd League Tarian Safeflue Shield with a hard-fought 3-2 win at Llanystumdwy.
Straight out of the blocks, Bro raced ahead with only a minute on the clock, a simple ball over the top catching the defence cold and Andy Williams slotting past outrushing keeper Ben Coats.
This did not deter the home side, as with a bit of aggression and pressure on the ball they found themselves back on terms. Jonny SweetserHawkes saved well only for a kind drop-down to fall for Kyle Williams to tap in for 1-1 after only seven minutes played.
Hotshot Sion Parry was soon given the chance to put the South Gwynedd side ahead from the spot, Nick Williams adjudged to have committed a foul inside the box.
After recently scoring five penalties in the same match there was never any doubt Parry would put Llanystumdwy 2-1 ahead, finding the top corner to give Sweetser-Hawkes no hope.
Parry struck the bar with a remarkable touchline free kick before, less than a minute later, Goronwy levelled.
Williams slotted in partner Jac Thomas, who did well to hold off his man and stretch a shot under the stopper and evading the attempted clearance on the line for 2-2. Bro produced a strong finish to the half, Thomas denied by a headed clearance off the line and Tudur MorrisJones elegantly executing an edge of box volley that skimmed the post.
Early in the second half, Darren Parry’s close-range strike looked a certain goal only for Sweetser-Hawkes to produce a miraculous reflex save.
Within a minute Bro struck what would turn out to be the winner.
Morris-Jones dinked a ball out wide to Williams, who drove into the box. He squared to Jac Thomas, who half- connected with his shot, but gladly watched it fall to Callum Thomas who did not hesitate to roll the ball past Coats.
‘Stumdwy pressed hard for an equaliser, Sweetser-Hawkes stretching full length to tip over from Sion Parry.
Into the last 10 minutes Sion Parry again had only the woodwork to prevent a leveller, this time a looping header bouncing off the crossbar.
Minutes before the final whistle Llan had a goal disallowed and Bro held on to book a tantalising home tie against title rivals Bontnewydd in the next round.
Gwalchmai swept aside Menai Bridge Tigers 5-0, John Jones, Geraint Jones, Craig Evans and Corey Sinnott (2) with the goals. Bontnewydd upset the apple cart with a 6-0 away hammering of in-form Holyhead Town.
Morgan Roberts (3), Gareth Edwards (2) and Llion Davies did the damage. In round two, Llangoed defeated Waunfawr 8-7 on penalties after a 4-4 draw, Wayne Thomas, Callum Graves (pen), Justin Williams and Matthew Owen for the home side.