LLANRWST UNITED (Gwydir Park)

It was more Welsh action for me today as the Welsh Trophy reached the 3rd round stage. Shamefully this was the first time I'd dipped my toe in this competition, in this current season, and, to be honest, I couldn't have picked a better day, the sun was beating down, or a better location.

Situated in the Conwy Valley, the small town of Llanrwst is on the main A470 road, on the banks of the River Conwy.

The town's major feature is a narrow three-arch stone bridge, built in 1636, which crosses the river and leads to Gwydir Park, the home of Llanrwst United. It also features prominently on the club badge.

Llanrwst United will celebrate 30 years of existence in 2013 having been formed in 1983 when Llanrwst Town and Llanrwst Athletic merged.

Llanrwst play in the Welsh Alliance, the third tier of Welsh football in the North, which feeds in the Cymru Alliance. Their opponents today were Penyffordd, who compete in the Welsh National League (Wrexham Area) again this league feeds into the Cymru Alliance.

It was the visitors from Flintshire who started the brightest and took the lead after 12 minutes when Andy Pugh tapped home from inside the six yard box. Penyffordd dominated the play in the first half and really should have scored more than the one goal they did, though they did hit the crossbar.

The Rwsters finally got going in the latter stages of the half and indeed they too hit the post before failing to convert the rebound.

If the final few minutes of the first half were a warning to Penyffordd, then they failed to heed it as whatever the Llanrwst manager said at half time certainly did the trick. The Rwsters turned the game on it's head and scored three goals without reply as they took control of the second period.

Moments after hitting the post, Elliott Llewellyn found himself in more or less the same position, breaking clear one on one with the 'keeper but this time he made mistake to level the tie (53).

Just two minutes later Kane Williams, on the edge of the box, fired in a dipping shot to put Llanrwst in front (55).

With 20 minutes remaining Aaron Jones broke clear and blasted the ball into the top corner to clinch the victory (70).

Penyffordd lost their discipline in the final quarter of the game and ended the game with 9 men on the field. Pete Fisher received a straight red card for a two footed tackle and Mark Pemberton was dismissed after picking up his second yellow card.

This in no way though took the shine off an entertaining cup tie.

Llanrwst moved into the fourth round where they now face another WNL side, Brymbo, at Gwydir park.

At this point I will give a little plug to next year's Welsh Groundhop. Llanrwst are scheduled to be part of a bumper weekend, details can be found here . Some great clubs and locations, so why not get on board, you won't be disappointed!

Saturday 20th October 2012
FAW Welsh Trophy 3rd Round
Llanrwst United 3-1 Penyffordd

Attendance: 35 (h/c)

CPD LLANUWCHLLYN (Cae Ffwtbol)

As is usually the case at this early point in the season, the Welsh Cup 1st round proper draw threw up some interesting ties, and the game I chose to watch was no exception.

For the first time in their history Llanuwchllyn, of the Welsh National League (Wrexham Area) Division One, had made it through to the first round and they were taking on Buckley Town of the Cymru Alliance (which is  two leagues above in the Welsh pyramid).

Llanuwchllyn is a small, predominantly Welsh speaking, village on the outskirts of Bala. In fact it is at the southern edge of Bala Lake (Llyn Tegid) and is the headquarters of the Bala Lake Railway.

The football club was formed in 1957 and play on a field, known as Cae Ffwtbol, adjacent to the local village hall.

The entrance to the ground is at the side of this hall, where I paid my £2 admission. It was disappointing, for me anyhow, that no programme had been produced to commemorate today's historic occasion.

The ground, as you would expect at this level, is basic with no real spectator facilities, but the vista is stunning! The club did make an effort on their big day with a Gazebo erected to sell hot drinks, crisps and chocolate.

It was a fine afternoon for football as the previous weeks wet weather gave way to some autumnal sunshine. The game also turned out to be a belting cup tie!

The home side were quickest out of the blocks, their pacey attack caught Buckley cold and soon they were 2-0 up. After 11 minutes Buckley 'keeper Ben Jones' clearance was sent back first time by Owain Williams and, before Jones could get back on his line, the ball was in the net.

It got better for Llanuwchllyn after 15 minutes when a corner was headed back across goal by Llian Roberts and Dewi Edwards added the finishing touch from a couple of yards out (pictured right).

However, before they had time to settle on their lead, it was 2-2 within five minutes. There was a "suspicion of handball" as Carl Lamb controlled a cross to hit the ball home after 16 minutes. There was nothing controversial about his second goal though as he raced onto a long ball to round the 'keeper before shooting home, via a deflection. This was after just 19 minutes.

The game calmed down after that but Llanuwchllyn were still causing Buckley problems. However as the half wore on Buckley began to take control of the game and really should have gone in at the break in front.

It wasn't long into the second half before they did take the lead. After Alwyn Rowlands in the Llanuwchllyn goal had pulled off a stunning double save, Anthony Lipton gave the visitors the lead on 55 minutes, with a superb sidefooted effort from the edge of the box.

From then on the complexion of the match changed as Buckley pinned Llanuwchllyn back, the home sides rhythm not helped by a couple of enforced substitutions and a red card, and Buckley wasted numerous chances to put the game to bed.

With just a couple of minutes remaining however, the ten men of Llanuwchllyn grabbed an unlikely equaliser. In their only real attack of the second half, they broke clear and Adam Williams' daisy cutter from the corner of the penalty area sent the game into extra time. 

Llanuwchllyn were dead on their feet and in extra time Buckley finally killed off their plucky hosts with three more goals. Lipton scored his second with a shot that looped over the 'keeper (99) Derrick Taylor was allowed the freedom of the box to turn and shoot home (115) and substitute Reece Norton completed the scoring (118) when racing through to beat the advancing Rowlands.

There was also an extraordinary sequence of Buckley hitting the crossbar 3 times in the space of 20 seconds in the first period of extra time.

The scoreline in the end probably gave a true reflection of how the game went but Llanuwchllyn can be very, very proud of their efforts today.

Saturday 6th October 2012

Welsh Cup 1st Round Proper

CPD Llanuwchllyn 3-6 Buckley Town (After Extra Time, 90 mins 3-3)

Attendance: 77 (h/c)

FC CEFN (The Muga)

I was fortunate today, as we enter the dying embers of the season, that there was a 'local' game for me to head to that had something riding on it. Cefn Mawr based FC Cefn were taking on Corwen, in the Welsh National (Wrexham Area),  and a point was all they needed to secure the championship.

This is the fourth ground i've visited to watch teams with Cefn in their name, which is amazing for such a small geographical area. Both Cefn Druids grounds (Plaskynyston Lane & The Rock) are two and Cefn United, who existed from 1999-2008, and played at The Dell, being the other. FC Cefn's ground, The Muga, is in the shadow of a supermarket that was built on the site of Druids old ground, Plaskynyston Lane.

FC Cefn were founded in 2006 and the following extract is taken from their website

"F.C.Cefn were founded in 2006 by Mr Billy Evans, Mr Bill Kempster,Steven Davies and Mark 'Jusso' Jones. The team joined the Welsh National League division 3 for the 2007/2008 season playing home fixtures at Ty-Mawr Park.That season F.C.Cefn won the div 3 title by one point from Gwersyllt. They were promoted straight to div 1, once again winning the title from Gwersyllt, this time by nine points, also winning the Div 1 league cup making it a splendid league and cup double. F.C. Cefn were promoted to the premier division.During this season they also changed their home ground and moved to The Muga Plaskynaston Lane. In their first season in the premier they finished a respectable 11th place and lost to venture 3-2 in the league cup final. F.C.Cefn's next ambition is to compete in the Cymru Alliance League"

That ambition may be a while off yet as, despite being certainties to clinch the title, promotion has already been declined. This could have something to do with ground as it is very basic to say the least. The ground is just a railed of pitch with no stands, cover or facillties...not good if you need to go to the toilet, or as today, take cover from the burning sunshine! Also, for all you paperchasers out there, no programme was issued either. However, I would say the elevated standing offered a great view of the match and no admission was charged.

As mentioned, at the start of play FC Cefn only needed a point to secure the Welsh National (Wrexham Area) championship, but managed to claim all three despite a very sluggish performance. Visitors Corwen clearly came with the intention of spoling the party and were the better side for large periods of the game.

It was no surprise when they took the lead after 30 minutes, a loose ball allowed Andy Roberts to race through on goal before slotting past in the Cefn goal. The homesters were very fortunate to go in at the break level when, after 39 minutes, Oli Davies sidefooted home Darren Williams' knock down.

Cefn seemed to drift back into their slumber at the beginning of the second period as Corwen had 5 great chances in an opening 4 minute blitz. The first four went begging but on 49 minutes a glorious lob from Dave Roberts restored Corwen's lead.

Prompted by ex-Welsh Premier League player Paul Mazzarella (left), FC Cefn worked themselves back into the game. Oli Davies thought he'd levelled for a second time but his effort was ruled offside. However minutes later they did level, Nick Williams latching onto a long clearance to fire home (63).



Nick Williams scores from the penalty spot



The momentum at this point swung towards Cefn and with 10 minutes remaining they took the lead for the first time, Nick Williams scoring his second goal from the penalty spot. The game was finally put to bed after 83 minutes when Lee Jones scored a fourth for Cefn. The mark of true Champions - when you don't play well, but can still grind out the result.

The party could well and truly start. Corwens misery was completed when Will Roberts was sent off for what I could only assume to be foul and abusive language.

The trophy was presented at the end of the game as another chapter in Cefn's short history came to a very happy conclusion.

 

 

 

 

Saturday 12th May 2012
Welsh National League (Wrexham Area)
FC Cefn 4-2 Corwen
Attendance: 140 (h/c)