Hat-trick seals cup for Nefyn
NEFYN United lifted the NWCFA Junior Cup for the second time in their history as they beat Bontnewydd 4-2 after extra time of last Saturday’s final at Bethesda.
This was the last match of the 2017/18 North Wales football season, the showpiece having been delayed due to a protest from Bontnewydd that Valley had fielded a suspended player in their 3-2 quarter-final victory over the Caernarfon-area side.
The appeal was eventually won by Bont, who had only played their semi-final, a 2-0 win over Gwalchmai, as recently as last Wednesday.
Saturday’s final was only two minutes old when Guto Roberts of Nefyn had a chance, but Bont keeper Carl Jones thwarted him.
Jones kicked the ball into the Nefyn half, where the Penwaig’s Daniel Roberts brought down Sion Pollard.
The resulting free kick by Morgan Roberts from 50 yards found the net due to a misjudgment from goalkeeper Alyn Williams.
The rest of the first half was an end-to-end affair, but no more goals resulted.
Nefyn moved up a gear after the break and did most of the attacking, with Bont’s Aled Steele looking a menace each time he had the ball from breakaways.
In the 63rd minute, United were on level terms as man of the match Mark Dunn went past a couple of defenders and planted the ball into the top corner.
This seemed to spur the Penwaig on, but, in the 76th minute, Bontnewydd broke down the right and a low cross from Steele could only be turned into his own net by Gwion Roberts as he attempted to clear the ball.
Nefyn again began to create chances, with Guto Roberts and Dunn looking threatening. With time running out, Nefyn were awarded a free kick 25 yards out. Up stepped Dunn, who left the keeper with no chance as the ball flew into the net.
Bont should have won it in the closing stages as first they were denied by a save, then the post.
Another 30 minutes was needed, and Nefyn looked the stronger, but were unable to find the finish.
Then, with just three minutes remaining, Dunn broke down the left, beat a defender and crossed to Guto Roberts, who made it 3-2. The drama was still not over. Bont keeper Jones came racing out of his 18-yard area as Roberts gave chase and handled the ball.
Jones was shown a second yellow card and, from the free kick, hero Dunn completed his hat-trick which clinched the cup for Nefyn, whose previous success in this competition came back in 2000.