Llanelli, Carmarthen and Newport join Welshpool in Premier Cup Quarters
Tuesday 6th November 2007
Carmarthen Town 2-1 Port Talbot Town (After Extra Time. 1-1 at F/T)
Llanelli 4-1 Rhyl FC
Newport County 1-0 Bangor City
Monday 5th November 2007
Haverfordwest County 0-2 Welshpool Town
Carmarthen Town who were dumped out of the Welsh Cup on Saturday by Newport YMCA, made amends in this competition by overcoming Port Talbot Town after extra time at Richmond Park. It looked as though the Steelmen were going to win after Martin Rose opened the scoring on 33 minutes with a confident strike following a clever Dylan Blain flick. The lead lasted until injury time in the second-half when sub striker Jamal Easter became the Old Gold hero by equalising at the death after Nathan Cotterrall's cross. The game went to the extra thirty minutes and the Town skipper Cotterrall struck after 12 minutes of the 1st period after Danny Thomas' clever assist, which proved to be the Town winner.
In the evening's other games, Llanelli continued their free-scoring form by smashing four against Rhyl to signal their intent in the lucrative FAW Premier Cup. Both clubs went into the game still in all three Cup competitions but visitors Rhyl were stunned by the impressive Principality Welsh Premier League leaders at Stebonheath.
After a minute's silence for Llanelli and Wales rugby legend Ray Gravelle, the hosts made the perfect start as defender Stuart Jones, who returned to the Reds' side this evening after injury, scored with a free-header in the opening minute. A trademark long-throw from Andy Legg found Jones unmarked with Lilywhites Carl Ruffer in no man's land. Andy Moran and Marc Connolly both had chances to draw the visitors level, but Reds winger Craig Williams doubled the advantage.
Andy Mumford caught the Rhyl defenders napping with a quickly taken free-kick and Williams turned and shot with one-touch across the face of Lee Kendall and in the far corner. Williams then turned creator as he cleverly put Rhys Griffiths into space and the prolific forward fired his side's third past the hapless Kendall.
From the restart, Rhyl were awarded a penalty as Lee Phillips wrestled Lee Hunt to the floor and Moran confidently fired home the penalty. Then, moments later, more sloppy defensive work from Ruffer and George Horan gifted the ball to Griffiths who teed up his Wales Semi-Pro colleague Chris Holloway who calmly placed the ball home for his first for the club.
Newport County also progressed into the last eight following a last minute winner from Charlie Griffin against the unlucky visitors Bangor City, who face a long trip home reeling after their late defeat. Bangor's Lee Webber had a first half header cleared off the line, but the Exiles were on top in the second half as Lee Fowler hit the post and Richard Evans hit the bar. The game was settled though when Damon Searle launched a long ball into the box for target-man Julian Alsop to head down to Griffin who smashed home past Paul Smith to win it.
On Monday evening, Welshpool Town beat Haverfordwest County at the Bridge Meadow Stadium courtesy of a goal in each half from striker Steve Rogers.
The four winners from this Round will face home Quarter Finals against the top four seeds, current holders TNS, Cardiff City, Swansea City and Wrexham.
