Penrhiwceiber  2
Andrew Workman (22') & Jordan Coles (47')

Garden Village  1
Steven Evans (54')

Shamrock Travel Welsh League Cup Semi-Final
Saturday April 1st, 2006

Garden Village's chances of a first Shamrock Travel Cup final appearance were dashed by an in-form Penrhiwceiber side at the Marston's Stadium, home of Afan Lido Football Club.

The valleys side took the lead mid-way through the first-half when Andrew Workman capitalised on a poor defensive clearance to fire home from just inside the box. Village had captain Chris Thomas red carded for a challenge on Nathan King in first-half stoppage time and to add to Village's woes 'Ceiber doubled their advantage through Jordon Coles at the start of the second-half.

Steven Evans pulled one back for Village shortly afterwards, the midfielder latching onto a pass from Ashley Richards and striking it underneath Paul Nicholas, but it was Penrhiwceiber who will go on to play in the final against either Morriston or Pontardawe.

The scoreline also ended up reflecting the amount of players that both sides had sent off; in the second-half Penrhiwceiber had Chris Keepings red carded for a challenge on Marc Lloyd and Nathan King after he picked up a second yellow.

Village were without second top-scorer Paul Dickie who this week travelled to the United States - and will be unavailable for the next few weeks - so Marc Lloyd partnered Ashley Richards up-front.

Chris Keepings and Andrew Workman both had chances for Penrhiwceiber early on as did Ashley Richards for Village, who shot just past the post, but it was the side from the Cynon Valley who were to break the deadlock on 22 minutes. The Village defence failed to clear their lines and the ball fell to the feet of Workman who, from 15-yards, struck low into the left-hand corner to make it 1-0. Garden Village came agonisingly close to equalising straight after the kick-off with a header which dipped just over the top onto the roof of the net.

Mark Snell had to deal with a header from Nathan King in the 28th minute and Marc Lloyd shot wide of the target, but the main talking point of the first-half was the sending off of Village skipper Chris Thomas in stoppage-time. After skipping past one challenge he and Nathan King both went in for a 50-50 ball but, instead of making contact with the ball, 'Taz' caught King was given a straight red by referee Andy Batchelor.

The ten-men of Village hardly had a chance to settle themselves back into the tie when 'Ceiber struck for a second time two minutes into the second-half. Jordon Coles found space in the box and, after intercepting a pass from the tireless Nathan King, struck the ball across Mark Snell into the bottom left corner. Nathan King came close to scoring himself four minutes later, after capitalizing on some poor Village defending to go one-on-one with Snell, but the Village goalkeeper made a fantastic save to keep the scoreline at two.

Village were back in the match on 54 minutes thanks to Steven Evans' tenth strike of the season - his third against Penrhiwceiber. He was fed through on goal by Ashley Richards and from the edge of the box struck the ball underneath the body of 'keeper Paul Nicholas.

Mark Snell was forced into making another excellent save from Nathan King on 58 minutes and shortly afterwards Village were back on level terms with Penrhiwceiber, with the amount of players that both teams had on the pitch! Midfielder Chris Keepings, like Chris Thomas, was given a straight red card for a touchline  challenge on Marc Lloyd.

Village had many chances to draw level against the ten-men but Bob Lloyd's side just couldn't turn all of that possession into goals. Nathan King was desperate to score that goal he had craved all afternoon and two minutes from time forced the excellent Mark Snell into making another fine save. It wasn't to be King's afternoon as he was ordered off by the referee after picking up his second yellow of the match in injury-time.

Village: Mark Snell; Jamie Mansell, Steve Bater, David Rimmer (Alex Whitehead 90+3'); Dayle Selvage (Owen Williams 77'), David Evans, Paul Bromage, Chris Thomas, Steven Evans; Marc Lloyd, Ashley Richards.

Not Used: Carl Alfei.

Penrhiwceiber: Paul Nicholas; Dean Brown, Martin Benham (Sam George 83'), Tryston Hall, Gavin Keepings, Jordon Coles, Chris Keepings, Nathan King, Ryan Birchman, Andrew Workman, Richard Veale.

Not Used: Andrew James, Paul Parker.