16 clubs progressed to the third round of the Nathaniel MG Cup with victory in round two over the weekend.
Northern section
Nathaniel MG Cup holders The New Saints began their trophy defence with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Flint Town United in the second round.
Having played in Europe just three days earlier, the Saints named a much-changed side which included five teenage debutants. One of those, 17-year-old Caleb Afful, opened the scoring after just 14 minutes, while Leo Smith and Ben Woollam also found the net as Craig Harrison’s side went into half-time 3-0 ahead.
Jake Morris also marked his debut with a goal after 58 minutes, before Flint captain Harry Owen pulled a goal back for his side. However, the win was sealed for TNS when Sion Bradley scored his first goal for the club from the penalty spot.
Connah’s Quay Nomads got their domestic campaign off to a flying start as Neil Gibson’s side secured a 3-0 victory at Buckley Town to reach the third round.
Debut goals from Fumpa Mwandwe and Tyler Berry came either side of Callum Humphries’ own goal as The Nomads returned to winning ways following their defeat to NK Bravo in the UEFA Europa Conference League last month.
Caernarfon Town let a two-goal lead slip against fellow JD Cymru Premier side Newtown, but eventually progressed via a penalty shootout at Latham Park.
Goals from Paulo Mendes and Gruff John saw the Cofis lead 2-0 at the break, but Newtown half-time substitute Jason Oswell scored just six minutes after entering the action to half the deficit.
The Robins were reduced to 10 men shortly after the hour mark as Callum Roberts was sent off, but Aaron Williams found an equaliser to send the tie to penalties.
Teenager goalkeeper Stephen McMullan saved two penalties as Caernarfon beat Crusaders from the spot in Europe last month and he did the same here, keeping out efforts from Oswell and Shane Sutton which combined with Zeli Ismael’s miss saw the Cofis win 3-1.
Bala Town left it late against Ruthin Town as an 86th-minute goal from teenage substitute Tom Hughes secured a narrow 1-0 win for Colin Caton’s side at the Memorial Playing Fields.
Hughes latched onto Naim Arsan’s cross and headed home from close range to bag his first ever senior goal for the club and snatch victory for the Lakesiders.
A second half blitz saw Airbus UK Broughton progress to the third round with a 4-1 win at Gresford Athletic. Sam Baker fired the Wingmakers ahead after he converted the rebound from Danny Warren’s saved shot in the 20th minute, but Gresford found their equaliser just shy of the hour mark thanks to a deft lob from Dominic Deacon.
The scoreline was not level for long as Airbus quickly restored their lead through George Peers, who smashed home the rebound from his saved penalty. Peers and Baker both added third and fourth goals within the space of three minutes to bag their braces and round off another stellar display from Mark Allen’s side.
Aberystwyth Town began their season with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Colwyn Bay to reach the third round. Niall Flint won and scored a 38th-minute penalty to open the scoring after he was fouled in the area by Cai Owen.
The game was tightly contested for the majority of the second half, but the Seasiders got their all-important second goal 14 minutes from time as Flint’s cross was turned home by John Owen.
Reigning JD Cymru North champions Holywell Town were 3-1 victors in their second round clash with Llay Miners Welfare at Bartons North Wales Stadium.
Danny Sullivan’s header, followed by a classy finish from Dave Forbes, who scored his first goal since last September after some lengthy injury spells, put Holywell two goals to the good at the break.
American winger Bisensio Kamilo found the net six minutes into the second half to get Llay on the scoresheet, but a looping header from Jake Roberts saw the Wellmen restore their two-goal lead and comfortably see out the tie.
There was plenty of drama at the Go Goodwins Stadium as Llandudno and Guilsfield both scored in stoppage time in a 2-2 draw before the hosts progressed on penalties.
Alex Boss’ strike for Llandudno was cancelled out by Jamie Hyne early in the second half, and after a tight encounter for the majority of the half, Seasiders substitute Mark Cadwallader thought he had won the match in the third minute of stoppage time. However, Hyne came up clutch for the Guils again by netting another equaliser to send the tie to penalties.
Although it was a quick turnaround in emotions for Llandudno at the end of the match, goalkeeper Cameron Darling was able to save Guilsfield’s first two spot kicks in the shootout while Jordan Hadaway’s side were able to net all four with Boss grabbing the winner.
Southern section
Lewis Rees scored a remarkable stoppage time winner as Cardiff Met staged a late comeback to clinch a 3-2 away victory over Llantwit Major in a thrilling encounter.
Major came from a goal down to lead with 10 minutes to play as Tom Vincent’s opener for the Archers was cancelled out by Tom Walbeoff’s strike and Ioan Emanuel’s penalty.
However, the visitors responded well in the latter stages as summer signing Ryan Reynolds equalised with an excellent finish before Rees scored directly from a corner with the last kick of the game to send Met into raptures and into the third round.
Haverfordwest County were the standout performers in the Southern section as they coasted to a 5-0 victory at fellow West Wales side Carmarthen Town.
A first half double for Dan Hawkins put Tony Pennock’s side in control at the LHP Stadium and the goalscoring fun did not stop there as teenager Jacob Owen added a third early in the second half before late strikes from Ricky Watts and Ben Fawcett completed a superb five-star display.
Michael Reindorf produced one of the best individual performances of the weekend as his hat-trick inspired Cardiff City to a 3-1 win over Pontypridd United.
Reindorf opened the scoring from the edge of the area in the 18th minute and grabbed his second just past the hour mark. Keston Davies halved the deficit for the Dragons to set up an interesting final 10 minutes, but a late penalty from Reindorf saw the forward complete his treble and confirm the Bluebirds’ place in the third round for the second consecutive season.
Keyon Reffell scored twice as Penybont triumphed 3-0 against Briton Ferry Llansawel in an all-JD Cymru Premier tie at Old Road.
Rhys Griffiths’ men immediately applied the pressure and Reffell reaped the rewards with the opening goal in the 37th minute. Mael Davies received a red card for Bont just moments into the second half, but Ferry were unable to capitalise on the numerical advantage.
Reffell scored his second of the afternoon with a low drive into the bottom corner in the 75th minute before Lewis Harling added a third from close range in the dying stages.
Goytre United continued their bright start to the season as they defeated Caerau Ely 3-2 in an entertaining encounter at Glenhafod Park.
Liam Bishop gave Caerau Ely the lead on the half hour mark, but nephew-uncle duo Keane Watts and Kai Steadman combined twice nine minutes either side of each half to turn the game on its head.
Danny Hillman added a third for Goytre with 20 minutes to play as he headed home from Nathan Jones’ corner. Young Guns forward Joe Shephard scored his first competitive goal in over two years to half the deficit, but it was too late for the visitors to stage a comeback as Goytre booked their place in round three.
Ten-man Barry Town United progressed into the third round with a penalty shootout victory over Llanelli Town at Jenner Park.
It was a dramatic end to the first half as Barry defender Josh Yorwerth was dismissed for two yellow cards, the second of which was shown for a handball inside the area, leading to a penalty for Llanelli. Henry Jones stepped up from 12 yards, but Barry’s debutant goalkeeper Liam Armstrong made a superb save.
Despite being down to ten men, Barry were able to break the deadlock courtesy of a superb strike from Eliot Richards. However, a stunning late finish from Joe Hopkins saw the Reds draw level and send the tie to penalties.
Armstrong proved crucial for the Linnets again, denying Ethan Cann from the spot in the only miss of the shootout as Evan Press stepped up to score the winning penalty for Barry.
Trethomas Bluebirds made it three wins from their first three games of the new season as Mark Dunford’s side ran out 3-1 victors at home to Baglan Dragons on Friday night. Andy Evans found the breakthrough from a corner after just eight minutes for the Bluebirds, who were reduced to ten men at the end of half following Will Bevan’s straight red card.
James Young was introduced at the restart for the home side and his introduction quickly proved key as the midfielder converted from the penalty spot to double the lead. Things got even better for the ten-man Bluebirds when Tom Gameson finished from close range. Kieran Parsons got the Dragons on the scoresheet late on, but his goal was only a consolation.
Wildcard entrant Merthyr Town continued to impress in the competition as they won 2-0 against Ammanford at Penydarren Park.
Ricardo Rees’ clinical finish put the Martyrs ahead inside four minutes before summer signing Kane Simpson wrapped up victory in stoppage time with his powerful effort across goal.
Nathaniel MG Cup Round Two results:
Northern section
Ruthin Town 0-1 Bala Town
The New Saints 5-1 Flint Town United
Buckley Town 0-3 Connah’s Quay Nomads
Colwyn Bay 0-2 Aberystwyth Town
Gresford Athletic 1-4 Airbus UK Broughton
Holywell Town 3-1 Llay Miners Welfare
Llandudno 2-2 Guilsfield (4-2 on penalties)
Newtown 2-2 Caernarfon Town (1-3 on penalties)
Southern section
Cardiff City 3-1 Pontypridd United
Goytre United 3-2 Caerau Ely
Barry Town United 1-1 Llanelli Town (5-3 on penalties)
Trethomas Bluebirds 3-1 Baglan Dragons
Briton Ferry Llansawel 0-3 Penybont
Carmarthen Town 0-5 Haverfordwest County
Llantwit Major 2-3 Cardiff Met
Merythyr Town 2-0 Ammanford
