Welsh Blood Service League Cup holders Airbus UK Broughton reached this season’s quarter-finals with a 2-0 victory over Holywell Town at the Hollingsworth Group Stadium on Saturday.
Both sides are gunning for promotion from the JD Cymru North, with just one point separating them in the league table, but it was Airbus who took the lead four minutes before half-time when Kaiden Cooke went on a solo run down the right hand side and crossed for Danny Warren to fire home his first goal since November.
Cooke was the provider once more for the hosts’ second goal on 64 minutes as he found George Peers, who turned the ball in at the second time of asking after his original effort was saved by John Danby.
It was a far less enjoyable afternoon for the other Cooke brother, Holywell’s Jake, who was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 70th minute as his side exited the cup.
Newtown ended their four-match winless run as Tom Jones’ late strike secured a 1-0 derby victory over Caersws at Latham Park on Saturday.
The Robins were reduced to 10 men shortly before half-time as Steff Jones received a second yellow card for delaying the restart of play by kicking the ball away.
However, that dismissal did not halt Nathan Leonard’s side as Jones put them ahead in the 79th minute as his effort from the right hand side deflected beyond Max Williams.
A straight red card for Caersws forward Tommy Rowlands in stoppage time stunted the Bluebirds’ hopes of sending the tie to penalties, as Newtown saw the tie out to book their quarter-final spot.
Brad Barnes scored a stoppage-time winner as Buckley Town progressed with a 2-1 victory over Ruthin Town at the Memorial Playing Fields on Saturday.
The tie remained goalless for well over an hour until the Bucks took the lead in the 80th minute when substitute Oli Blayney, who had only been on the pitch for 11 minutes, calmly converted from the penalty spot.
Ruthin talisman Llyr Morris immediately equalised to seemingly send the contest to a penalty shootout, but Connah’s Quay Nomads loanee Barnes netted on his Buckley debut in the fifth minute of stoppage time to send Asa Hamilton’s side through.
Guilsfield booked their place in the last eight for the first time in three years with a 1-0 victory over Rhyl 1879 at the Hops and Barley Community Stadium on Saturday.
Guils duo Sam Flory and Ben Bromley both struck the crossbar in the early stages of the contest, but eventually the visitors found the breakthrough as Flory converted from the penalty spot, with his goal proving decisive.
Afan Lido were the standout performers in the Southern section as they claimed a 5-1 victory away at Baglan Dragons on Friday night.
Lido made a lightning start to the game and opened up a three-goal lead inside just 22 minutes as Cai Owens, Liam Griffiths and Brandon Roberts all found the net.
The Dragons pulled a goal back through Tom Davies early in the second half, but Ioan Evans restored Lido’s three-goal cushion before16-year-old Zane Trott capped off a five-star performance with his first senior goal for the club. It brought Lido’s six-match winless run to an end, while it was their first away win since the start of September.
Newport City triumphed in a thrilling penalty shootout over Carmarthen Town on Saturday, following a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes at the LHP Stadium.
Carmarthen defender Luke Cummings netted a late equaliser to cancel out Owen Bancroft’s first half opener for Newport and send the tie to spot-kicks.
Both teams scored their first eight attempts from 12 yards, before a miss from the hosts allowed the Steelmen to score and reach the quarter-finals.
Treowen Stars carried their bright league form into the cup as they knocked out JD Cymru South promotion hopefuls Ammanford on penalties following a 1-1 draw at The Rec on Friday night.
Matt Delaney fired home the loose ball from Luke Sylvester’s blocked effort to put Ammanford ahead after 20 minutes, but Corey Jenkins brought the Stars level nine minutes into the second half with his eighth goal of the season. Both sides finished the 90 minutes a man down following straight red cards for Dan John and Christian Davies.
Each team converted their first four penalties of the shootout, but Morgan Clarke missed the fifth spot-kick for Ammanford, which allowed Craig McDonnell to step up and send the Stars through to the next round.
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Llantwit Major progressed with a tense 2-1 victory over Pontypridd United at the UWL Stadium on Saturday.
Ponty midfielder Tom Gameson was shown a straight red card on the half hour mark and Llantwit took full advantage in first half stoppage time as Jack Bevan converted from the penalty spot.
Josh Jones doubled the hosts’ lead with a clinical finish into the far corner four minutes after the break, before Ethan Edwards pulled a goal back for the Dragons in the 73rd minute with his eighth goal of the campaign.
Major goalkeeper Ryley Allen was on top form to deny Ponty an equaliser late on and ensure his side progressed. Karl Lewis’ men are now unbeaten in their last five home games in all competitions.
Welsh Blood Service League Cup Round Two results:
Northern Section
Airbus UK Broughton 2-0 Holywell Town
Rhyl 1879 0-1 Guilsfield
Ruthin Town 1-2 Buckley Town
Newtown 1-0 Caersws
Southern Section
Ammanford 1-1 Treowen Stars (4-5 pens)
Baglan Dragons 1-5 Afan Lido
Carmarthen Town 1-1 Newport City (8-9 on pens)
Llantwit Major 2-1 Pontypridd United
