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Saturday 28th February 2009

Blaenau Ffestiniog Amateurs 2 - 1 Llanystumdwy
Geraint Owen 66
Kieron Ellis 86

Line Up
Geraint Hughes, Euron Roberts, Terry Hughes, Aled Owen, Neill Reynolds, Geraint Owen,
Garry Hughes, Gareth Roberts, Ceri Roberts, Dafydd Reynolds, Keiron Ellis,--- Rhys Jones,
Karl Kavanagh, Steven Jones, Peter Jones


Man Of the Match =




BLAENAU AMATEURS 2 LLANYSTUMDWY 1.
When these two teams met earlier in the season it was the home side that won easily by 10-0 but it wasn't the case in this North Wales Intermediate Cup tie on Saturday as the visitors frustrated the Quarrymen's efforts before Keiron Ellis popped up with the winner on the 84 minute. On the balance of play it was the right result as the home dominated for long periods but failed to turn the possession into goals. Perhaps one criticsm might be that they play too much football at times and a more direct approach might be more beneficial, but still who's to critice a side that is going into the last months of the season with only one defeat to its name.. They must be doing something right. With John O'Donovan away in Ireland it was Dafydd Reynolds and Ceri Roberts who started up front whilst the visitors were forced into changes due to the unavailablity of some of their players. From the start the home side attacked the visitors goal but to their credit they defended manfully and had a piece of luck when keeper Gareth Jones was nowhere near a goal bound effort but his defender Ben Jones headed clear. Then defender Terry Hughes went close for the home side with a left foot shot that was inches away from the target as was Ceri Roberts's effort soon after. Gareth Roberts went through on goal but his effort was smothered by Gareth Jones and the keeper was lucky when a Blaenau effort was deflected onto the bar and into his hands. When the home side did get the ball in the net Dafydd Reynolds's effort was rightly ruled out for offside. The visitors best chance fell to Cedri Lloyd when through on the goal he shot straight at the home keeper Geraint Hughes so ending the first half as it started goalless. The pattern at the start of the second half was the same with the home side making all the running as they looked for that elusive first goal but they and their fans were in for a shock on 59 minutes when the visitors took the lead. For once the home defence was stretched and a couple of quick passes saw the ball being played into the feet of Liam Hughes who coolly opened the scoring and a shock could be in the offing. However it only took three minutes for the home side to draw level after a fine right wing move created the opening for Geraint Owen and he drilled the equaliser hard and low past Gareth Jones. Minutes later he looked as if he had won a penalty for the home side but was booked by the referee for diving which was harsh to say the least. The official waved away another penalty claim when Gareth Roberts seemed to be pulled down in the area and when Keiron Ellis's effort rebounded off a post on 75 minutes it looked as if it wasn't going to be the Amateurs day. In fairness they stuck at it and then Keiron Ellis got the winner but even then the visitors might have earned extra time at least when in the dying minutes a rare mix up in the home defence allowed substitute Caron Hughes a clear sight on goal but to the home fans relief his effort went wide. Not one of the Amateurs's best performances but it is the result that matters as they now take on Clwyd Premier side Greenfield in the semi final that match due to be played on Saturday April 4th on Conwy United's ground. The Amateurs have already beaten two Clwyd sides away in this event, Prestatyn Res and Penmaenmawr Pheonix. Before then it is the first round of the Eryri Shield as Gaerwen are the visitors to Cae Clyd this Saturday.

Meirion Ellis

Pictures By Chris Mcphail