WELSH FOOTBALL

THE New Saints may have notched a famous win in the Europa Conference League earlier in the week, but they found themselves being dragged back down to earth with a major bump by Penrhyncoch in the second round of the Nathaniel MG Cup.

The 4-2 triumph over Czech Division 1 side Viktoria Plzeň at Cardiff City Stadium may have been one of the biggest in their history, but their all-change side in one of their domestic competitions couldn’t match the heroics of Thursday night.

The New Saints boss Anthony Limbrick unsurprisingly made 11 changes to his side for the trip to Penrhyncoch and handed the managerial duties to the club’s U19 boss Sam Smith. Six players were handed their first team debuts at Cae Baker and the average age of the visiting team was 18.

It was a gamble that didn’t work as Penrhyncoch smelt blood and notched a famous 2-1 win. The damage began with a Taylor Watts penalty at the end of the first half and then Ifan Burrell gave his side the perfect start to the second half with a second two minutes after the re-start.

Owain Jones became the first hero of the season at Park Avenue as he kept his cool to end a dramatic penalty shoot out and send Aberystwyth Town through to the third round.

The home side needed a penalty from Matt Jones in the 82nd minute to get back on level terms after Penybont had hit the front with a Sam Snaith strike in the fifth minute. The visitors created the better chances in normal time and home goalkeeper Alex Pennock had to be at his best to keep them out.

With no extra-time the game went straight to penalties and after it went to 4-4 there were fourth successive misses as nerves got the better of both teams with only one goal needed. In the end, Jones stepped up to win it with the 14th kick of the shoot-out.

Cardiff Met made light work of an Ammanford side boasting both Lee Trundle and Leon Britton as they moved seamlessly into the next round with a 4-0 away win. Adam Roscrow, back with the students after time spent at Wimbledon and The New Saints, was among the scorers for the Cymru Premier side.

Undy Atheltic won an eight goal thriller against Swansea University. The visitors missed a penalty and the home side lost Paul Clayton to a second yellow card on 90 minutes, moments before Harris Thomas made the game completely safe with a fifth goal.

Adam Davies scored twice for Airbus UK Broughton in their 3-2 home win over Buckley Town, while three first half goals from Ashley Ruane, Dom ElseyMcHugh and Paul Johnson were enough to earn Prestatyn Town a 3-0 home win over Cymru Premier side Cefn Druids.

Reigning champions Connah’s Quay Nomads welcomed fans back to their Deeside Stadium for the first time in more than 500 days as they beat Llandudno 2-0 in a game switched to the Deeside Stadium. Summer signing Jordan Davies gave them a sixth minute lead before Tom Moore wrapped things up in the 70th minute with the second.

Marcus Day picked up two of Barry Town United’s goals in their 5-0 home hammering of Llanelli Town and another Cymru Premier side, Newton, flexed their muscles at Cambrian & Clydach Vale to avenge their quarter-final defeat at the same venue in 2018.

Aaron Williams scored all his side’s goals in a 4-2 triumph, two of them coming from the penalty spot. Font Town United and Bala Town played out a 1-1 draw before Bala goalkeeper came into his own in the penalty shoot-out to save three spot kicks and enable his side to win 3-1.

NATHANIEL MG CUP 2ND ROUND SOUTHERN SECTION

Aberystwyth Town 1 – 1 Penybont (Aber won 5-4 on pens)

Ammanford AFC 0 – 4 Cardiff Met University

Barry Town United 5 – 0 Llanelli Town Cambrian & Clydach Vale BGC 2 – 4 Newtown AFC

Cwmbran Celtic 1 – 2 Pontypridd Town Haverfordwest County 3 – 0 Goytre United

Trefelin BGC 2 – 0 Risca United

Undy Athletic 5 – 3 Swansea University

NORTHERN SECTION

Airbus UK Broughton 3 – 2 Buckley Town

Conwy Borough 1 – 3 Holywell Town Flint Town United 1 – 1 Bala Town (Bala win 3-1 on pens)

Gresford Athletic 0 – 1 Bangor City Llandudno 0 – 2 Connah’s Quay Nomads (Deeside Stadium) Penrhyncoch 2 – 1 The New Saints Prestatyn Town 3 – 0 Cefn Druids Ruthin Town 0 – 3 Caernarfon Town