Magic man Mac does trick for Glantraeth
THE treble was not quite achieved, but a double still did very nicely for Glantraeth. Warren Gibbs’ side followed up their Division One runaway title success by lifting the Cookson Cup with a 2-1 extra time victory over Penrhyndeudraeth last Saturday.
Unfortunately, the treble dream ended when the Anglesey men lost 7-6 on penalties to Llanrug United in the Mawddach Cup Final at Bangor City the previous Tuesday.
Not surprisingly, it was the prolific Corrig McGonigle who notched the winning goal against Penrhyn three minutes from the end of the added half-hour at Nantlle Vale.
It was McGonigle’s 59th goal of a remarkable season for the club he joined last September.
In difficult conditions, Penrhyn got the best possible start as they took the lead after just eight minutes through Tomos Smith.
Glan were indebted to keeper Ben Heald as he dived to his left and managed to flip a shot from Neil Thomas onto the bar and over, but Penrhyn were fortunate just before the break as a delightful chip from McGonigle came back off a post.
Five minutes into the second period Glantraeth were level, McGonigle pulling the ball back from near the byline for Matty Lock to finish.
Both sides went close before the final entered extra time.
A stalemate and a penalty shootout looked likely until McGonigle struck in the 117th minute, controlling a long ball from Tom Clarke before firing low and hard past keeper Robert Watson.
Last Tuesday’s Mawddach final was a true clash of heavyweights, with Glan unbeaten in 16 and Llanrug having lost just one in 18 matches.
‘Rug took a seventh minute lead when David Noel Williams was fouled in the area. Dylan Owen’s kick was saved by Heald, but the captain followed up to convert.
Glantraeth gained equality on 20 minutes as Mark Bridge volleyed past keeper Dylan Roberts. Early in the second half Glan were ahead through a superb strike from McGonigle.
As the game entered its final stages Llanrug were doing everything possible to unleash the aerial power of Alan Mark Owen.
Heald did well to save one header from him and as a corner came in the big number nine nodded against a post.
The Arfon side’s late burst paid off in the 87th minute as a handball led to another penalty and this time David Noel Williams converted.
Glantraeth’s Jamie Jones went close in the first period of extra time and Heald made a fine save from Jonathan Sadler in the second half.
McGonigle had a great chance to win it for Glan with six minutes left, but he lifted the ball inches too high.
So to penalties and it stood 4-4 when Alan Mark Owen missed for Llanrug and Harry Galeotti hit the bar for Glan.
Sion Phillips put away ‘Rug’s eighth penalty to make it 7-6 and Glan failed to score, meaning it was Llanrug’s cup for the first time in the club’s history.