Two Anglesey teams make it to cup finals
TWO Anglesey teams progressed to cup finals within the Welsh Alliance League last weekend. Glantraeth advanced to the Cookson Cup showpiece with a 3-1 extra time victory at Llanrug United, while Gaerwen are into the Take Stock Van Hire Challenge Cup final after beating Mochdre Sports 3-2 in a closelyfought semi.
Not so long ago, Gaerwen were close to going out of existence, but the persistence and determination of chairman Mathew Thomas and his committee kept the club afloat.
This season, on-field fortunes have been much better under the guidance of managers Ari Evans and Lee Jones, culminating in last Saturday’s victory over Mochdre achieved thanks to goals from Dylan Williams (2) and Llion Vaughan Jones.
In the final, the LÔn Groes club will take on either Llannerchymedd or Prestatyn Sports.
Cookson Cup holders Glantraeth are into the final again where a meeting with Penryndeudraeth awaits after a big struggle at Llanrug.
Just past the half-hour Glan went ahead as Kieren Jeffreys and Gethin Maxwell created an opening for Corrig McGonigle, who made no mistake. It stayed at 1-0 up to the interval. A determined-looking Llanrug side came out after the break and within three minutes had pulled level when David Noel Williams’ shot was deflected wide, and from the corner Luke Phillips saw his looping header find the net.
The game was now far more even, with both sides threatening in turn, but the visitors had a great chance to go back ahead on 67 minutes as McGonigle’s clever pass put Harry Galeotti clear, only for him to pull his shot wide.
Glan’s luck was in eight minutes from time when Carl Griffiths saw his shot come back off a post, then Alan Owen’s header was cleared off the line by Sean Davies.
The game swung up the other end and Dylan Roberts had to go down smartly to save from Jeffreys, and with the 90 almost up McGonigle nearly scrambled a winner.
So it was extra time, and within a minute of the kick-off Glantraeth regained the lead, McGonigle fighting off the challenge of Eifion Williams following a pass from Matty Lock to go one-on-one with the keeper. The outcome was inevitable as the Glan hitman slid the ball home for his 27th goal of the season.
Three minutes later Roberts pulled off point-blank saves from McGonigle and Galeotti, but Llanrug were not beaten yet and it took a good stop from Ben Heald to deal with a free kick from Dylan Owen.
The home side were trying everything to get back in the game, but this was a cup tie that saved the best to last as Glantraeth were awarded a free kick on the halfway line.
Against all odds Darren Gowans elected to shoot, and the power of his effort left Roberts clutching at fresh air to make it 3-1 in sensational fashion.