The football season has kicked off and while it was a great weekend for local clubs in the Welsh Cup, our Huws Gray Alliance sides will want to put the opening day behind them.
Caersws’ depleted squad suffered more injuries when they hosted title favourites Gap Connah’s Quay, eventually going down 6-1. Scott Williams had earlier equalised on 39 minutes to send the sides into the break level, but the second half saw the visitors dominate with five unanswered goals including three in the final six minutes.
Guilsfield manager Russell Cadwallader saw plenty of positives in his side’s 2-0 defeat at much-fancied Rhyl. Jason Oswell and Russell Courtney scored first half goals but couldn’t add to their tally after the break against a well-organised Guilsfield side.
On Friday night, Llanrhaeadr’s big Alliance debut didn’t quite go to plan against Cefn Druids who raced into a 4-0 half time lead. Emyr Roberts pulled one back from the spot but they went down 5-1.
Welsh Cup
It was a fruitful day overall for local clubs in the Welsh Cup opening qualifying round.
The big local derby saw Berriew return from Waterloo Rovers with a path through to the next round following their 3-1 win thanks to goals from Martyn Ziemann, Jon Gamble and Rhydian Morris. Four goals from rising star Elliot Jones and a Gaz Bromley hat-trick contributed to Montgomery Town beating Machynlleth 8-0.
Carno impressed with a 4-2 victory over Trearddur Bay, while Llanfair United showed why many people fancy them to do well this season with a 4-0 win at Tregaron Turfs.
Llanfyllin went down 5-1 to Brickfield Rangers and Kerry returned from Connah’s Quay Town empty handed after their 3-1 defeat.
Spar Mid Wales League
Llanidloes got off to a blistering start in the Spar Division One with a 6-0 victory over Dyffryn Banw. But there were no goals as Llansantffraid Village were held at home by Newbridge.
In Division Two’s only match, Four Crosses got the better of Abermule 3-2.
Huws Gray Alliance
Cefn Druids 5, Llanrhaeadr 1
Caersws 1, Gap Connah’s Quay 6
Rhyl 2, Guilsfield 0
Spar Mid Wales League
Division 1
Llanidloes 6, Dyffryn Banw 0
Llansantffraid Village 0, Newbridge-on-Wye 0
Division 2
Four Crosses 3, Abermule 2
Welsh Cup, first preliminary round (2pm)
Acrefair Youth 0-4 Coedpoeth United
Amlwch Town 0-4 Rhydymwyn
Barmouth & Dyffryn 3-1 Aberdyfi
Bethel 1-2 Caernarfon Wanderers
Blaenau Ffestiniog 3-7 Caernarfon Town (Played at Caernarfon Town)
Bow Street 1-9 Mold Alex
Brymbo 0-1 Penmaenmawr Phoenix
Builth Wells 3-2 Llanberis
Carno 4-2 Trearddur Bay
Connah’s Quay Town 3-1 Kerry
Dyffryn Nantle Vale 1-2 Llanllyfni
FC Nomads of Connah’s Quay 3-2 Llay Miners Welfare
Gaerwen 2-1 Llandudno Junction (AET, 1-1 after 90 minutes)
Glan Conwy 4-1 Overton Recreational
Greenfield 0-4 FC Cefn
Gwalchmai 6-4 Dolgellau Athletic (AET, 4-4 after 90 minutes)
Johnstown Youth 1-3 Llandrindod Wells
Kinmel Bay Sports 1-1 Chirk AAA (Chirk AAA won 5-4 on penalties)
Llandyrnog United 1-0 Holywell Town
Llanfyllin 1-5 Brickfield Rangers
Llanrwst United 0-1 Llangollen United
Llanystumdwy v Bro Goronwy
Montgomery Town 8-0 Machynlleth
Nefyn United 5-0 Presteigne St Andrew’s
Penyffordd 2-5 Glantraeth
Pontrhydfendigaid 4-2 Castell Alun Colts
Pwllheli 1-3 Llanrug United
Rhayader Town 3-3 Hawarden Rangers (Hawarden Rangers won 3-2 on Pens)
Rhosgoch Rangers 2-1 Halkyn United
Tregaron Turfs 0-4 Llanfair United
Tywyn Bryncrug 3-2 Llanfair PG (AET, 2-2 after 90 minutes)
Venture Community 3-0 Bodedern
Waterloo Rovers 1-3 Berriew