Damage in the Box!: 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!