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BLAENAU AMATEURS 1 MOCHDRE SPORTS 2 (after extra time)
After having been forced to kick their heels for the past 4 weeks the Amateurs players were glad to get back into action on Saturday as they took on the Clwyd side Mochdre in a Barritt Cup tie but were disappointed with the final result for they had more of the play only to lose in extra time. They could easily been 2 or 3 goals ahead in the opening 10 minutes with both Tom Woolway and Ceri Roberts seeing their shots cannon off the woodwork and other clear cut chances were spurned. Having weathered that initial pressure the visitors slowly got into the match and going forward they did cause some problems to the home defence which included Dei Reynolds but Carwyn Jones injured and John O'Donovan suspended were missing from their line up. Young David Copsey was introduced as a left sided midfielder and showed some finse glimpses of his potential before he was forced to leave the action due to an injury as was Tom Woolway and then the substitute Gareth Evans. The visitors had the man of the match by a long way in Dean Hughes who gave a fine performance as a lone striker. He held the ball up well until other players could join in the attack, he found spaces and all throughout he was a dominant figure in this match. He went on to crown a good day by scoring his side's first goal and then earned the penalty which proved to be the winner in extra time. For the home side as the match progresed they had their chances and when on target they found the visitors keeper Carlos Martins in fine form and there is no doubt that he too helped to take the Clwyd side into round two of this competition. After those early shots that struck the woodwork chances were few and far between as the home side looked a bit ring rusty as their enforced layoff and there was hardly anything of note in that first half on the Mochdre goal whilst at the other Geraint Hughes in the home goal did well to dive at the feet of Dean Hughes as he went clear on goal. It took until just after half way through the second half for the stalemate to be broken as that man Hughes bundled in a left wing cross at the far post, a real poachers goal. That lead only lasted three minutes though as for once Martins was found wanting as a Terry Hughes free kick ended in the back of the net with the keeper wrong footed. Both teams went close with Dean Hughes having a fine long range effort tipped over the bar by Geraint Hughes as the best effort as the 90 minutes ended. Nine minutes into extra time the visitors scored what turned out to be the winner. Again Dean Hughes was involved as he went clear of the home defence he was brought down by Geraint Hughes and up stepped Joe Jenning to ram home the resulting penalty kick in what proved to be the winning goal. The home side huffed and puffed and as Martins saved all that came his way it was the visitors that held on for the win. The Amateurs return to Welsh Alliance action this Saturday with a tough home fixture against Llandudno Junction and on Boxing Day the much awaited Merioneth derby at home to Barmouth and Dyffryn United will take place.

Meirion Ellis