Croesyceiliog  2

Garden Village  1
Ashley Richards

Welsh Cup Round 1
Saturday September 10th, 2005

Village's Welsh Cup campaign was brought to an end at the first hurdle at Woodland Road on Saturday courtesy of a Croesyceiliog strike in injury-time which secured their passage through to the second round.

The home side went into the half-time break a goal up but Village levelled early in the second-half through Ashley Richards, who was returning from suspension, but 'The Cockerels' struck right at the end of the tie to book their place in round 2 of the Welsh Cup.

Bob Lloyd had a number of players missing from his side which included the likes of: David Rimmer, David Evans, Marc Lloyd, Paul Bromage, Steven Evans and Ben Brown. There were first appearances of the season for Nicky Romanello and Kevin Hodder while a debut was handed out to central defender Jamie Mansell, who joined us recently from Pontardawe.

Things started to go wrong for the visitors even before a ball was kicked when Kerry Poffley was lost in the warm-up to a groin injury, which left us with the defensive duo of Neil Lloyd and Craig Smith on the bench.

Croesyceiliog took the lead after quarter of an hour and held their one-goal advantage until the break but Village's efforts were rewarded with an equaliser early in the second-half. Ashley Richards struck a free-kick from 25-yards and, with an aid of a deflection, hit the back of the net.

As the game went on it looked increasingly likely that is was heading into extra-time; Bob Lloyd even sent Dai Rimmer to fill up the water bottles in preparation for the extra 30 minutes, but his side were struck with a sickening blow 2 minutes into time added on. Jamie Mansell broke up-field but lost possession and as Croesyceiliog broke we were lacking the defensive cover needed to stop them scoring their late winner.

Village did have a chance to send the game into extra-time shortly after Croesyceiliog's second; their 'keeper parried a shot from Ashley Richards and the ball fell to unmarked Kevin Hodder in front of an open goal, if he had struck it early he would have levelled the scores but when he did hit it, the goalkeeper had enough time to scramble back across the goal line to push Hodder's eventual shot away for a corner.

Bob Lloyd was left very disappointed afterwards:

"We were very unlucky," said Lloyd, "We had to make do with a patched-up team and they did very well.

"It wasn't a very good start for us when we lost Kerry (Poffley) in the warm-up and conceded after just 15 minutes, but the boys played absolutely superb.

"We played really well in the second-half and we were rewarded with a goal. After that Croesyceiliog started to become disjointed and were arguing amongst themselves, but they got that goal right at the end after Jamie Mansell lost possession."

He added that a few players that missed the tie in Gwent will be back to to face ENTO Aberaman next week at Stafford Common.

"We should have David Rimmer, David Evans and Paul Bromage back in the squad but we will still be missing Ben Brown. He could still be out for a while."

Village: M Snell; K Hodder, J Mansell, M Hughes, C Alfei; D Selvage, C Thomas, N Romanello, O Williams; C Blake, A Richards.

Used Subs: N Lloyd, C Smith.

WELSH CUP ROUND 1 RESULTS

Afan Lido 0-3 West End
AFC Llwydcoed 5-0 Blaenrhondda
AFC Porth 0-1 Pontyclun
Bethesda Athletic 1-5 Mynydd Isa
Bridgend Town 1-4 UWIC
Briton Ferry Athletic 5-2 Llantwit Fardre
Buckley Town 4-2 Flint Town United
Caerleon 5-6 (aet) Bettws
Caldicot Town 4-0 Porthcawl Town
Caerwys 0-2 Llanrwst United
Cefn United 0-2 Connah's Quay Nomads
Chirk AAA P-P Brynteg Village
Coedpoeth United 0-3 Caernarfon Town
Conwy United v Y Felinheli (Conwy win on w/o)
Corwen 0-6 Glantraeth
Croesyceiliog 2-1 Garden Village
Cwmbran Celtic 2-4 Ystradgynlais
Denbigh Town 1-4 Prestatyn Town
Dinas Powys 0-2 Port Talbot Town
Ely Rangers 1-1 Cambrian and Clydach Boys & Girls Club
ENTO Aberaman 2-0 Barry Town
Garw Athletic v Taffs Well
Glan Conwy 0-3 Bala Town
Goytre United 7-1 Llanwern
Grange Harlequins 2-0 Penrhiwceiber Rangers
Gresford Athletic P-P Bodedern
Hawarden Rangers 2-3 Mold Alexandra
Holywell Town 0-1 Newi Cefn Druids
Knighton Town 0-4 Penrhyncoch
Llandudno Junction 0-3 Airbus UK
Llandyrnog United 3-2 Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant
Llanfairpwll 1-3 Llangefni Town
Llanfyllin Town 2-1 Carno
Llangollen Town 0-2 Llanberis
Llanidloes Town 0-7 Guilsfield
Llanrug United 2-6 Llandudno
Maesteg Park Athletic 7-0 Ammanford
Morriston Town 0-1 Bryntirion Athletic
Neath Athletic 0-1 Llanelli
Nefyn United 1-0 Halkyn United
Newcastle Emlyn 1-6 Cardiff Corinthians
Newport YMCA 2-1 Caerau Ely
Penmaenmawr Phoenix 1-1 Summerhill Brymbo
Penrhiwfer 2-4 Risca United
Pontypridd Town 3-2 Pontardawe Town
Presteigne St Andrews v Meifod (Presteigne win on w/o)
Rhayader Town v Four Crosses
Rhydymwyn 0-6 Holyhead Hotspur
Ruthin Town 3-4 Lex XI
Sealand Rovers 3-2 Rhos Aelwyd
Tredegar Town 0-4 Ton Pentre
Treharris Athletic 4-2 Goytre
Troedyrhiw 3-0 (aet) Treowen Stars