WJ OWEN OPEN CUP
BRECON CORRIES ....... 1 GARW ............................. 5
UNBEATEN Highadmit South Wales Alliance Division Two pacemakers Garw came through their biggest test of the season in downing Premier Division aristocrats Brecon Corries to reach the semifinals, writes Tony Poole.
This was viewed as a watershed match for Ryan Blanche’s crack troops, as they hadn’t previously locked horns this season with a side two tiers above them in the FAW Pyramid.
But the Blandy boys proved quick learners and in the Alliance result of the day, they creamed it at the Rich Field.
Garw Valley iconic sportsman and entertainer Deri Lloyd was purring after his son Owain covered star-stopper Tom Lewis for a first time.
Lewis with eight clean sheets against his name in the league this winter again excelled, as did the Blandy boys at the back.
Though Brecon are involved in a battle to retain Premier League status, they were expected to take Garw close.
But with star man Lewis James a Fagin if ever there was one, the Mid Walians duly had their pockets picked.
His bounty on this occasion was a golden brace while the light fingers of Jason James also left Brecon lighter in the wallet.
Another Garw man on incredibly leapfrogged Porthcawl over neighbours Cornelly United despite conceding a league double to the Meadow Street boys.
However, to keep the run going, the Seasiders had to come from behind in the Aberdare suburbs after Stars briefly shone.
But two Andrew Fisher goals inside the space of 10 minutes midway through the half then pointed the way ahead.
Top scorer Fisher made it level-pegging, and it wasn’t long before he hit the target with a dainty dink from 25 metres.
And on the half-hour mark, Jake Lane headed home an arcing corner from pop idol Jordan Marks, making it 3-1.
Half time arrived with the visitors in the driving seat, and the second period was just five minutes than once, but the Quins bravely turned to the set piece. The visiting defence proved impenetrable as the Quins blinked first in the contest of wills.
The second half started well for the Maesteg men. A consistency blossomed as they played a good wet weather game. Pressurised, Trebanos conceded consecutive lineout and scrum penalties which Howe goaled for a 9-3 lead.
Trebanos don’t need second chances, but the Quins handed them to the “Ancient Borough”. The first came from the difficult restart. Although the ball was gathered and secured, instead of passing to the awaiting back to bang the ball downfield, a darting run on the outskirts of the 22 was chosen instead. Nobody could instigate try-scoring moves 10 yards from the tryline, so how one could be the money was ex-Betws star Ryan Penny-Hughes, who got a mint fourth goal for his side.
Substitute Lewis Davies also excelled with the bench warmer making up for lost time in getting his side’s sizzling fifth goal.
Though only 2-1 to the good at the interval, Garw were on a different planet during the second half, and duly zoomed into the hat for the semi-final draw.
“The boys came through a big test at Brecon, and will now be examining a league and cup double,” said Garw technical adviser Deri Lloyd.
Having danced the night away in Brecon with adoring fans, they resume league duties on Saturday at Cardiff Hibernian. old when Fisher completed a hat-trick to move on to the 13-goal mark for the season.
And on 75 minutes, impish raider Morgan Thomas was dragged down in the box, resulting in the referee pointing to the spot.
Mattie Ellis converted a fifth penalty of the season.
Though fast-falling Stars pulled one back late on, by then the Seasiders had already banked all three points.
This has left Porthcawl with just eight remaining matches, and at Lock’s Lane they face Cogan Coronation, Cwmbach Royal Stars, Cardiff Draconians, Clwb Cymric and FC Cwmaman. That leaves three away trips – starting at Tonyrefail on Saturday – followed by Dynamo Aber and FC Cwmaman. launched from seventyfive yards out was questionable. The run was followed by a fumble, scrum, penalty and a reduction in the lead. Soon the scores were level when a high tackle was penalised in front of the posts. A ruck transgression handed another three-pointer and a 12-9 lead to Banws.
Quins reaction was fantastic. Re-engaging in the arm wrestle, they forayed into Banws territory. An offence allowed Howe to bring parity to the scores, but this was far from the end of the action.
Trebanos played an agonising end game. Keeping possession, they popped, made good ground and dropped, as they attempted to glean a kickable penalty and seal the match. However, the Quins defence returned to its defiant and disciplined best to force a penalty.