Lewis The Penalty Shootout Hero For Cwmbran Celtic

Former Newport County goalkeeper Lewis Watkins sparked big celebrations among his Cwmbran Celtic team-mates with a crucial penalty save against Briton Ferry Llansawel.

Tyler Brock stepped up to take the 10th penalty of a Nathaniel Car Sales League Cup shootout and Watkins guessed right to save and send his jubilant team into the semi-finals.

The teams fought out a 2-2 draw after extra time and had to decide their cup issue via spot-kicks.

Nine penalties were struck with such precision that neither goalkeeper got a finger to any of the shots.

Rakesh Patel, Chris Ham, Simon Prangley, James Young and Josh Bul netted for Celtic, while Kieran Williams, Scott Tomlinson, Steve Davey and Gareth Jones replied.

Brock stepped up with Cwmbran winning 5-4 and Watkins ensured his team go forward.

Llanelli AFC and STM Sports joined Celtic in the last four, while the tie between Pontypridd Town and Aberbargoed Buds was postponed and is yet to be played.

The clash between Cwmbran and Briton Ferry was a fiercely contested match. Both teams are in Welsh League Division One and Celtic swept into a two-goal lead before their hosts hit back to make it 2-2 after 90 minutes.

Cwmbran, who fielded Callum Wakeham on the right flank in place of the injured Lloyd Kinsella, were off to a dream start when man of the match Rakesh Patel played a long diagonal pass out to Owen Cook.

The ball was whipped back into the middle and Chris Ham fired a magnificent 35 yard shot into the top right hand corner of goalkeeper Luke Probert’s net.

Ham and Bull were lively in attack and the visitors scored their second goal after 29 minutes. Richard Crees tackled Ferry’s Steve Davey and played a great pass down the left to Bull, who immediately went for goal and left Probert with no chance of saving the cross-shot.

Ferry pulled a goal down just before half-time when Davey’s free-kick evaded everybody and looped over goalkeeper Watkins for a soft goal.

Davey almost equalised when his shot was deflected just wide by a defender with the goalkeeper wrong-footed. while Gareth Jones fired over from a good position.

Ferry were cranking up the pressure and they levelled the scores with a Steve Hughes long range effort after 81 minutes.

Misty rain was making the pitch heavier and extra time became a way of attrition. Both teams had chances, but none could be taken and a penalty shootout decided who would go into the semi-finals.

That big save by Watkins earned Celtic victory in dramatic style, while there were gritty performances all over the pitch for Cwmbran.

James Young showed remarkable energy to still be driving his side on at the end of 120 minutes, while Patel was man of the match for another consistent performance.

It was a cup tie full of drama and referee Darren Hales had a superb match in the middle.

A Jordan Follows hat-trick plus goals from Lee Trundle and James Loveridge eased League Cup holders Llanelli Town through to the last four. They won 5-1 against AFC Llwydcoed.

The Reds went ahead on 16 minutes after Follows was played through and although his attempt was diverted away by goalkeeper Callum Quinton, Trundle was on hand to drive it back into the bottom corner.

Loveridge made it 2-0 when Robert Thomas and Trundle combined to set up the chance and he finished in clinical style.

Follows netted his first after 43 minutes, pouncing on a rebound after Trundle’s shot was blocked.

A first time strike by Follows made it 4-0 after 63 minutes and the striker completed his hat-trick from a Trundle pass with 20 minutes left.

Llanelli are going for a second successive trophy double, having won the Division Two title and League Cup last season. They are top of Division One and play third-placed Goytre United on Saturday (2pm).AFC Llwydcoed: Quinton, Williams, Walters (Jones 75), S Evans, Davies, Andrews (Stonelake 80), Woodford, Garthwaite, Price (Ellis 82), Carter (capt), I Evans. Subs not used: Butler, Henry.

Llanelli Town: Morris, Graves, R Thomas, March (Samuel, 65), Bevan, Clarke (capt), C Jones (Morgan 71), Davies (Wade 71), Follows, Trundle, Loveridge. Sub not used: Coughlan (gk).

In the third League Cup tie played Trefelin Boys and Girls Club won 1-0 against STM Sports away.

Jordan Edwards scored the only goal of the game for Trefelin after 25 minutes, while STM had a player sent off in the closing stages.

The Welsh League Division One programme was restricted by the League Cup ties and the big clash between Llanelli and second-placed Haverfordwest County was postponed.

Afan Lido won  2-0 at Undy Athletic. Cai Owens and Carl Evans returned after their one match bans, while Alex Gammond was among the substitutes.

Undy almost went ahead inside the first minutes when a long ball caught Lido out at the back and Gareth Cullimore ran through, but goalkeeper Steve Cann dived to his right to push away the goalbound shot.

Evans headed in from a corner to put Lido ahead after 27 minutes, while Elliott Thomas scored his sixth goal of the season to make it 2-0 midway through the second half.

Sacha Walters, Liam McCreesh, Josh Webber and Mark Jones were involved in the build-up.

Afan Lido: Steve Cann, Cai Owens, Sean Hanbury, Carl Evans, Carlos Indjai (Alex Gammond 71), Josh Doyle, Elliot Thomas, Liam McCreesh, Mark Jones, Sacha Walters (Jack Fleming 88), Josh Webber (Andre Griffiths 65).

Subs not used: Jack Todd, Leigh de Vulgt.

Welsh League midweek fixtures:

Wednesday, January 17: Ton Pentre v Cwmbran Celtic (7.45pm).

Friday, January 19: Afan Lido v Cwmamman United, Penybont v Briton Ferry Llansawel (7.30pm).

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