WJ OWEN OPEN CUP

PENCOED ATHLETIC ... 0 CLWB CYMRIC .............. 1

LACKLUSTRE Pencoed didn’t experience the day they were hoping for against underdogs Clwb Cymric on the 3G super mat at Penybont FC, writes Tony Poole.

Though the Felindre Road boys were strong favourites to punch their ticket through to the semifinals - and a shootout against high-flying Penydarren Boys Club at a neutral ground – it simply never happened.

“Basically, we were unable to breakdown a solid defence and failed to tuck away some decent second-half chances,” said disappointed Pencoed Athletic boss Mark Powell.

The tie was switched to the Bridgend super club, as repair work on the Felindre Road pavilion – caused by the first cold snap at the start of the month - has yet to be completed.

The goal that settled the issue midway through the first half was like the remainder of this quarterfinal tie – messy.

A mix up in the Pencoed defence led to Huw Owen stabbing home the winner for the Division One side from the Welsh capital.

This was practically the only time Clwb Cymric got a shot on target – that said Pencoed weren’t much better.

During the second period, Pencoed did create a couple of half chances ahead of Jack Hopkins fluffing their best goalscoring opportunity on 85 minutes.

However, Hopkins had a fine game in midfield, as did Griff Williams at wing back.

But on a bitterly cold afternoon in the Bridgend suburbs, there was precious little to warm up long-suffering supporters.

One of them on exiting the ground hit the nail on the head in feeling that if it hadn’t been so cold he’d have gone to sleep.

Pencoed can now concentrate on ending their league campaign on a high and with that in mind they go to Radyr on Saturday to take on ex-Welsh League aristocrats Cardiff Corries.