Football: Llanrug United FC lead the Gwynedd cup charge

Aug 21 2008 By Dave Jones

LLANRUG UNITED 5 LLANRHAEADR-YM-MOCHNANT 1

WELSH CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND

IT was a fantastic weekend for Herald area clubs in the Welsh Cup with all five in action progressing to the first round proper.

Llanrug United, Nefyn United, Llanberis, Pwllheli and Llanllyfni are all in the draw for the next stage on September 13, as well as Nantlle Vale, who received a bye.

This means all six Welsh Alliance teams representing Arfon and the Lln continue to fly the flag in Wales’ premier knockout tournament.

And at least one will feature in the second round with Llanrug to host Pwllheli in stage one.

Lightning struck twice at Eithin Duon on Saturday with Aled Owen’s Llanrug outfit thrashing Spar Mid-Wales League side Llanrhaeadr 5-1 in the Welsh Cup for the second season running.

The hosts edged ahead on six minutes when Eifion Williams’ fine pass released striker Mathew Phillips who rounded keeper Paul Edwards and coolly slotted home.

Carl Griffiths was denied by a fine Edwards save, but the United striker succeeded two minutes later with a superb strike into the top corner from an angle just outside the penalty area.

United were well in control but despite dominating possession and creating several goalscoring opportunities they failed to capitalise.

A fine run by Phillips was ended when he was brought down in the penalty area on 36 minutes and club captain David Noel Williams made no mistake from the spot to make it 3-0 at the break.

The visitors enjoyed their best spell in the early part of the second period.

Within a minute of the resumption a fine headed effort from a corner brought a tremendous point blank save from United keeper Aled Williams.

But the reds’ rearguard weathered the visiting pressure, well marshalled by central defenders Martin Bohana and Eifion Williams.

A fine move involving full-back Chris Joyce and Phillips was superbly executed by young midfielder Gwyn Pritchard Jones, unleashing a thunderous volley to the bottom corner of the net from 20 yards to give United a 4-0 advantage on 63 minutes.

And within a minute man of the match Phillips scored his second with a smart finish following an excellent through ball by skipper Williams.

With the match won and quarter of an hour remaining United gave youngsters Gavin Richardson and Iwan Arwel Jones run-outs for Bohana and Phillips. Llanrhaeadr got a consolation goal on 77 minutes with a fine effort by substitute Aaron Poole.