By Paul Jones
Five of the dozen JD Cymru Premier clubs were bundled out of the JD Welsh Cup on a bumper weekend of giant-killing acts in the first play-off round.
Eliot Evans scored the only goal that took Cardiff Met through with a 1-0 win over Penybont at the home of current Cymru Premier leaders.
The two teams had met in Cyncoed earlier in the week in the league, when the Archers picked up a late goal to earn a 1-1 draw, and it was the only all top-flight clash.
But the wins by third tier Holyhead Hotspur and Llanuwchllyn, as well as victories for JD Cymru South clubs Caerau Ely and Ammanford, ensured the magic of the cup was alive and kicking over a weekend that also saw last season’s runners-up, The New Saints, equal a record.
Gwyndion Ifan was the toast of the town in Llanuwchllyn after his penalty made it 5-3 to the Ardal North East club and earned them a massive victory over Newtown.
The Robins had two players sent off during the 90 minutes that preceeded the shoot-out.
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The first was goalkeeper Alex Swindell, who was shown a red card for handling outside his area 23 minutes into the game. Then, Callum Roberts depart 13 minutes from the end of normal time.
After the goalless draw it was home keeper Rob Dasolau’s save from George Hughes third spot kick that gave Llanuwchllyn the chance to seal the most famous win in their history against the 2015 cup winners.
There were great scenes at The New Oval in Holyhead after home skipper Alex Jones fired home the decisive penalty to earn his side a 6-5 shoot-out triumph over Caernarfon after a windswept 0-0 draw.
The Ardal North West side had found themselves on the wrong end of a 6-5 penalty shoot-out defeat against Llanwrst two weeks earlier in the FAW Trophy, but refused to be beaten a second time
Barry Town United fell in similar fashion in their game home against Caerau Ely. The Linnetts’ had Callum Sainty sent off in the 35th minute as a fast and loose game ended 3-3.
Three times Caerau came from behind to level with Tom McClean responding to Keenan Patten’s opening goal from the penalty spot.
Kayne McLaggon then made it 2-1 before Hywel Davies replied and an 81st minute goal from Ieuan Owen was erased four minutes later by Charlie Lewis.
Patten then missed with the first penalty in the shoot-put, McLaggon has his attempt saved by Joe Baker, and Caerau were perfect in their execution to win 4-2 with Clayton Farrah, George Sheppard, Lewis and McLean all hitting the target.
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Aberystwyth Town were also uncerimoniously dumped out of the competition after they fell 1-0 to Ammanford from the league below. Callum Thomas scored the only goal of the game in the seventh minute.
Cup holders Connah’s Quay Nomads had no problems in getting through to the next round as they fired in five goals without reply at home against Guilsfield. Teenager Tyler Berry got things going with a goal in the 15th minute before four goals in the 20 minutes sealed the deal.
Another top tier side, Haverfordwest County, needed penalties to get past JD South league leaders Trethomas Bluebirds after a goalless draw. Goalkeeper Ifan Knott coming up with a vital save to deny Kallum Thomas and help Haverfordwest come out on top 5-3.
Josh Jones scored twice to steer Flint Town United to a 5-1 win over Gresford Athletic, while Briton Ferry Llansawel had a Tom Walters hat-trick to thank for their safe passage into the next round via a 3-0 win at New Inn.
Former Wales international Mark Aizlewood must have wondered what was happening when his Carmarthen Town team fell 3-0 behind after conceding a 52nd minute penalty to Warren Jones at Penrhiwceiber Rangers.
Jack Thomas had scored twice in the first half for the home side, but four substitutions after the third goal went in put the Old Gold on the front foot.
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In the end, Aizlewood’s side scored four goals in the final 35 minutes through Toby Jones, Tyler Jackson and a brace from Noah Daley – the winner coming from the penalty spot in the 94th minute.
The New Saints got in the mood for their first Uefa Conference League home game next week against Astansa by banging in a record-equalling 16 goals against Llangollen Town at Park Hall.
It was one-way traffic from the start against the team from the Ardal North East league with three goals inside the first five minutes. Declan McManus netted two of them and Danny Redmond the other.
Adam Wilson then chipped in with a hat-trick before the break and Ash Baker and Ryan Brobbel also got on the scoresheet.
Poor old Ben Lloyd, the 37-year-old Llangollen goalkeeper, must have wondered what was happening, but there were more goals to come.
Second half goals flowed from Wilson with his fourth, Blaine Hudson, a second for Brobbel and then Baker, Josh Pask, Tomas Jones and Sion Bradley.
Cardiff City beat Knighton 16-0 in 1961 while, Bala Town beat Brymbo 17-1 in 2021. The first and only other time a team won by a 16-goal margin was on 9 November 1883 when Davenham beat Holywell Reserves.
Craig Harrison’s side host Kazakhstan team Astana at Shrewsbury’s New Meadow ground on Thursday night.
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