AVAFL/MERTHYR
LEAGUE CUP AFC ABERCYNON ........ 2 HIRWAUN SPORTS FC .3
AFC Abercynon entertained premier division champions-elect Hirwaun Sports in this second round AVAFL/Merthyr league cup tie at Y Parc.
It was the visitors who dominated the opening exchanges, forcing AFC firmly on to the back foot with a high octane display.
But as the half opened out, the home side gradually came into their own with James Davies & skipper Tom Evans winning the mid field battle & Chris Mitchell & Kevin Hughes posing serious questions in the attacking third. Indeed, on 25 minutes, centre back Steven Hart rose to bury his towering header from Adam Davies` driven corner kick to break the deadlock.
Undeterred, the visitors came back strongly & almost restored parity just after the half hour.
But goalkeeper Jordan Baker produced an excellent reflex save to deny Nicholas Baily the equaliser.
As half time loomed, both sides looked to expand the score line but when match official Andrew Harries signalled for half time, the score remained 1 – 0 to AFC.
As the second half got under way the home side came out of the blocks at full tilt & proceeded to apply constant pressure to the Hirwaun defence.
However, the visitors held firm until 65 minutes when Chris Mitchell clipped in a telling cross for Steven Hart to head past goalkeeper Liam Pryor for the second time.