Penydarren And Conwy Earn Semi-Final Trophy Slots

Penydarren BGC and Conwy Borough are the first teams through to the FAW Trophy semi-finals.

South Wales Alliance team Penydarren won 2-0 against Welsh Alliance visitors Llangefni Town from Anglesey, while Conwy were convincing winners against Cardiff-Based Grange Albion.

The other two quarter-finals – Llanrug United v Greenfield and Rhos Aelwyd v Buckley Town – were postponed because of waterlogged pitches.

Chris Owens and Josh Brogden scored Penydarren’s second half goals against a Llangefni team who won 2-1 against Welsh Alliance leaders Conwy Borough in their previous match.

The match was switched to Merthyr Town’s Penydarren Park stadium and Cefni made the 350-miles round trip from Anglesey full of confidence.

Llangefni had three trophies in their sights including the Alliance championship when they arrived, but are now after a double.

Penydarren still boast a 100 per cent record in league and cups, a remarkable record which means they are still chasing four trophies.

Promotion from the South Wales Alliance, the fifth tier of Welsh football, is their priority, but manager Kerry Mullin’s team are facing a major fixture backlog.

Penydarren lie in mid-table with 27 points from nine matches – and they have 12 games in hand on leaders Sully Sports, who are 10 points ahead of their rivals.

Mullin’s boys are also through to the FAW Welsh Cup quarter-finals, where they play Bangor City away, and the FAW Trophy semi-finals with the draw still to be made.

Pen, from the Merthyr Tydfil area, are also still in the John Owen League Cup.

Conwy won 7-1 against Grange Albion at Y Morfa despite having Leigh Craven sent off during the second half.

Corrig McGonigle netted a hat-trick in the first 15 minutes and Welsh Alliance leaders Conwy were always in command after that.

Matty Hughes made it 4-0 on the half hour, while Tom Creamer added the fifth after 38 minutes and Iolo Hughes made it 6-0 just before the break.

Albion pulled one back, but Tom Creamer completed the scoring after a slick one-two in the 81st minute.

Cardiff-Based Grange had to travel North for a tie against Mynydd Isa earlier in the competition and they had another long haul for the match against Conwy.

Their title ambitions in the Welsh Alliance were rocked in midweek when they lost 2-1 at home against challengers Llangefni Town.

Iwan Jones put Cefni ahead from a penalty, Sion Hogan equalised for Conwy before half-time. James Saxon headed Town’s winner and Llangefni are now four points behind the leaders.

Penydarren and Conwy are through to the last four of the FAW Trophy, while the remaining quarter-finals involve four North Wales clubs.

Action from Conwy Borough v Grange Albion in the FAW Trophy.

Llanrug United, who have lost only twice in 22 matches in all competitions, are at home against fellow Welsh Alliance Division One club Greenfield.

It was only four years ago that Llanrug won the FAW Trophy, while they knocked out Chirk AAA earlier in this seasons competition.

In the other Trophy quarter-final Welsh National League Division One leaders Rhos Aelwyd entertain Premier Division Buckley Town, who have lost once in 19 league and cup matches.

Buckley have won 17 of those fixtures, while his, Trophy winners in 2008, are unbeaten in 16 fixtures.

JD Welsh Cup quarter-final draw (to be played on Saturday, March 3 apart from Bangor v Penydarren): Carmarthen Town v Aberystwyth Town, Llandudno v Newtown, Connah’s Quay Nomads v The New Saints, Bangor City v Penydarren BGC (to be played on Sunday, Match 4, will be broadcast live on S4C.

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