J D WELSH CUP

LLANGYNWYD RANGERS ..................................2 PORTHCAWL TOWN ATH ..........................................3

PORTHCAWL Town Athletic were deserved winners, but hats off to a young Llangynwyd Rangers side for pushing them all the way, writes Tony Poole.

The Seasiders hit the ground running in the Llynfi Valley with a goal after just 90 seconds.

Morgan Thomas crossed for Jorge Crofts to easily get the better of Llan goalkeeper Leon Darkes.

But just as Llan grew into the tie, they leaked a poor goal in the 36th minute. An ordinary ball played into the box wasn’t dealt with and Crofts drilled home a fifth goal of the campaign.

The sides changed ends with Porthcawl 2-0 to the good, but Llan pulled one back in the 50th minute.

An Aaron John free kick found its way to the back post, and Lloyd Howells headed past apprentice goalie Thomas Warren. But on the hour, crafty Crofts threaded a pass through to Callum Chilcott, who tucked a shot into the far corner of the net.

Porthcawl continued to lead 3-1 until the 78th minute when the Llan Siro boys set up a grandstand finish. A neat Izak Horn finish – on the end of an Ioan Jones cross – halved the deficit, but that’s as good as it got for them.

Porthcawl wound down the clock to make it three wins in three.

Llan visit Pencoed tonight (Wednesday) and host Penydarren BC in another league match on Saturday while Porthcawl this Saturday have a home league fixture with Treforest.