Gaerwen land Junction clash
ANGLESEY giant killers Gaerwen have landed a home tie against Llandudno Junction of the Huws Gray Alliance in the first round proper of the 2017/18 JD Welsh Cup as reward for their thrilling 6-5 victory over higher division Pwllheli last weekend.
The Welsh Alliance Division Two side led 4-0 and 6-2 against Division One visitors Pwllheli, but ended up having to settle for the odd-goal triumph.
Gaerwen were four-up at half time and stayed in control after the break, Dylan Williams (3), Dafydd Jones (2) and man of the match Liam Morris appearing to have secured their smooth passage.
However, a late rally from Pwll, who had eliminated Llangefni Town in the last round, ensured a close finish at Lon Groes.
Morris bagged the opener and then turned provider with the cross for Williams to notch his first.
Jones’ side-foot finish made it three and Williams added a fourth before the turnaround.
Williams completed his hat-trick from the spot after Morris was brought down and Jones’ excellent 18-yard strike completed the home scoring.
Bodedern will also fly the island flag in the first round after seeing off Aberffraw 2-0 in an all-Welsh Alliance Dvision Two derby.
Shaun Jenkins and a Casey Boylan penalty saw Boded, who reached the last 16 of this competition in 2013/14, into the next stage.
The Cae Ty Cristion outfit missed penalty of chances in the first half, but then after going down to 10 men early in the second period, found themselves starved of possession.
For all their efforts, however, Aberffraw could not break down a stubborn home side and Ricky Williams’ men advanced to visit Conwy Borough in round one.
Amlwch Town caused an early stir at Conwy when Jack Griffiths gave them a 16th minute lead at the Welsh Alliance Division One tabletoppers.
However, before the break a pair of penalties from Boro’s Angleseybased striker Corrig McGonigle made it 2-1.
Early second half strikes from Tom Walsh and Kevin Lloyd put the Tangerines 4-1 up and that is how it stayed.
Holyhead Hotspur of the Huws Gray Alliance join the competition at the first round stage and they will travel to familar foes Denbigh Town on the weekend of October 6-8.