Late Surge Sees Mountain Bow Out Of Cup

Following on from the weekend victory over Penyffordd, the first round of the NEWFA Challenge Cup dealt up a tasty clash, as Halkyn & Flint Mountain welcomed newly promoted Plas Madoc, champions of the Welsh National League Division One last season. Assistant Manager Rob Thelwell again took charge of the team and brought back Ryan Roberts in goal, with Adam Bailey taking up a familiar spot at left back, whilst David Walkiewicz and Pete Martin also come back into the side.

The first half was a largely even affair, with both sides trying to break the deadlock. Just before the half hour mark, it was the Mountain who opened the scoring. David Walkiewicz initially saw a low effort well saved by the Plas Madoc keeper. Defender Damon Griffiths kept the ball alive, before laying off the ball, where it was then crossed from the right to an unmarked Pete Martin at the far post, who headed past the goalkeeper.

Just before half time, David Walkiewicz picked up the ball on the left and turned his man. Getting into the penalty area, he was then clipped by the defender, with the referee pointing to the spot. Walkiewicz picked himself up to take the penalty himself, firing past the goalkeeper. The Plas Madoc was unlucky, however, as he managed to get a hand on the ball. In the second half, the visitors come out all guns blazing and five minutes into the half, were awarded their own penalty when Shaun Thomson pushed his in the back and to the ground. From the resulting penalty, Ryan Roberts was right and made a fabulous save. In the follow up, Plas Madoc thought they had scored when the ball found the back of the net, but a foul on Thomson meant the goal was ruled out.

Mountain had chances to extend the lead, but chances from Jack Aitken and Mark Foster went begging. As the game drew drew towards it's close, Plas Madoc got themselves down the left, before finding their striker in the box to fire past Roberts and give them life. The away piled on the pressure and with six minutes to go, they equalised with a header from close range, sending the tie to extra time. In extra time, Plas Madoc were awarded a second penalty when Pete Martin brought down a Plas Madoc player. This time, the player sent Roberts the wrong way to give the away side the lead for the first time.

With time running out, the final blow was struck when Plas Madoc added a fourth goal. With a free kick swung into the box, a Plas Madoc player was left unmarked at the far post and tapped into the net, despite calls for offside. The score could've been worse, but a great strike from thew away team cannoned off the bar and away to safety.

Next up, Halkyn & Flint Mountain have a week's break, before the league campaign gets underway. First up will be Lex, who joined the league this season after resigning from the Premier Division last season.