Goals Galore In NEWFA Challenge Cup Clash

Well, football is back! Just over two months after Mountain finalised a fourth trophy of a remarkable campaign, the newly renamed Halkyn & Flint Mountain welcomed Penyffordd Lions to our new Pant Newydd home in the Preliminary Round of the NEWFA Challenge Cup. Assistant Manager Rob Thelwell took the reins for this game and gave competitive debuts to four players in the starting lineup, Adam Bailey deputised in goal, with Shaun Thomson, Jord Beck and Mark Foster all starting. There was also space on the bench for recent new signings Aled Reece and Tyler Roberts.

Mountain started brightly and were on the front foot from the kick off. After a couple of half chances, Mountain did take the lead after seven minutes. With the ball played out to the right, Jimmy McGlone played a low ball into the six-yard area, where Jack Aitken was on hand to tap into the net from close range. Mountain looked in control of the game, but were dealt a blow when the visitors equalised on nineteen minutes. With the ball heading back to the Mountain goal, stand in goalkeeper Adam Bailey missed a chance to collect the ball and Penyffordd had a simple tap in.

The equaliser seemed to shock Mountain back into life and straight from the kick off, they restored the lead. Jimmy McGlone was again the architect, as he beat his marker and delivered a perfect cross into the box. Arriving unmarked was debutant Mark Foster, who headed the ball back across goal and into the net, to open his Mountain account. Within a minute, Mountain had a third. This time Jimmy McGlone was himself on the scoresheet, as the drove into the penalty area before smashing the ball past the Penyffordd goalkeeper.

As the half drew to a close, Penyffordd showed they weren't out of the tie, as they grabbed a second goal. With the Mountain defence looking for offside, the referee did not blow and Penyffordd were able to stride through on send the ball past Bailey and into the back of the net. Coming out for the second half, Penyffordd would've been confident of finding another equaliser, but Mountain hit four goals in a ten minute spell! On as a substitute at half time, Aled Reece took just two minutes to open his account. In the box, Reece turned his man before firing low across goal and into the bottom corner. A minute later, it was five. Down the right yet again, Keiran Farr delivered a dangerous cross to the arriving Jack Aitken, who caught the ball with a volley that left the goalkeeper no chance from close range. Keiran Farr then picked up a goal himself. Striding forward from right back, Farr got into the penalty area, before exchanging passes with Jimmy McGlone. That got Farr past the defence and his first time effort found the bottom corner.

With Penyffordd reeling from the three quick goals, Pete Martin picked up Mountain's seventh goal. The substitute beat the offside trap and one on one with goalkeeper, he simply stroked the ball into the net. Penyffordd kept on fighting and were rewarded with a third goal with twenty minutes to play. At the back post, the Penyffordd striker controlled the ball and fired into the bottom corner. They then added a fourth goal four minutes later. As time ran down, Mountain secured the win with three minutes left. Sean Williams raced onto a loose ball as it ran towards the corner. Getting to the ball ahead of the Penyffordd goalkeeper, Williams lofted the ball into the net from thirty yards!

Next up, it's a quick turnaround as Mountain prepare for the First Round of the NEWFA Challenge Cup on Wednesday evening. The visitors to Pant Newydd will be Plas Madoc, who defeated Rhydymwyn 3-1 in their Preliminary Round tie. Plas Madoc were Welsh National League Division One winners last season and will be tough test ahead of the league campaign beginning in two weeks' time.