PORT TALBOT & DISTRICT LEAGUE CUP

A MAGNIFICENT seventh goal of the season from Sam McCarthy punched FC Porthcawl a ticket into the Challenge Cup final, writes Tony Poole.

The reward for the Green Machine is a final showdown with big guns Cwmavon, who swept to a 5-1 success over Gwynfi United at The Cape in the other semi-final.

And it made amends for the 4-0 drubbing that Porthcawl received off the Steelmen in the league during the run up to Christmas.

Rest Bay chief Jon McCarthy had to shuffle his pack owing to the availability of players, and opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation.

The number crunching served them well – Dan Burt and newcomer Sam Hogben conspicuous - before goalkeeper Brett Davies denied Luke Llewellyn.

The McCarthy master plan set up led to son Joe rule the midfield roost alongside Jordan Pugh and Zak Furness.

Though Porthcawl dominated the opening half, it was goal-less at the changeover, and little changed on the resumption.

Centre-backs William Owen and Evan Jones coped well with the threat posed by Llewellyn and Dave Eldred, and it was only a matter of time before the Green Machine fired on all cylinders.

That sentiment arrived after boss McCarthy rang the changes via the introduction of Dave Richards and Harry Nicholls.

The clinching goal arrived from an 85th-minute corner that Joe McCarthy planted in the penalty area.

Though a bullet Evan Jones header produced an equally fine save, Sam McCarthy got on the end of loose possession to hammer home the goal that carried Porthcawl into a first cup final.

However, during final knockings both sides went down to 10 men - Sam McCarthy saw red for retaliating to a shocking challenge.