PORT TALBOT & DISTRICT LEAGUE OPEN CUP

ABERCREGAN UTD ...... 1 FC PORTHCAWL ........... 5

ALEX Treharne carded his first hat-trick for FC Porthcawl to rubber stamp cup progress at Abercregan, writes Tony Poole,

This took his seasonal goal tally on to the 11 mark – just three shy of Joe McCarthy – while on-song James Brown netted twice to move on to 10 goals for the campaign.

It took them just 30 seconds to open their account with Karl Cornock finding Geraint Davies and a Treharne cross led to Brown getting a colourful strike.

Goalkeeper Brad Robinson was then kept on his toes before a feature of Porthcawl play on the day, crosses, led to them doubling the lead.

Matt Laverty launched a speedy counter attack and with Evan Jones and Ben Bryant heavily involved, Treharne converted a Bryant cut back.

Abercregan responded with a goal from Tom McCluskie, but the mean Green Machine from Rest Bay led 4-1 at the break.

On this occasion, Cornock picked out Mark Astrauskas and Brown centred for Treharne to nod home.

Another powerful counter attack completed the first-half scoring with Jordan Pugh and Geraint Davies setting up a second Brown goal of the tie.

Porthcawl continued to dominate on the restart with man of the match Laverty at the heart of their effort.

Their final goal stemmed from captain Will Owen, who slipped a pass to Cornock for Treharne to take home the match ball.

Porthcawl now face a trip to Baglan in the next round, but the fancied duo of Cwmavon and Gwynfi Utd are out after suffering shock defeats.

This Saturday, FC Porthcawl resume league duties via a final Rest Bay match of the season with Fairfield Wednesday.

The mean Green Machine continue to head Cwmavon by five points, but the title-holders have two games in hand.