Llanrug United On Mission To Regain FAW Trophy

Former FAW Trophy winners Llanrug United are on a mission to win the competition again.

The Gwynedd club defeated holders Chirk AAA in a thrilling last 16 tie, edging into the quarter-finals after a penalty shootout.

Llanrug, still unbeaten in the Welsh Alliance, have suffered only one defeat so far this season and that was against Llay Welfare in the JD Sports Welsh Cup. They play fellow Welsh Alliance team Greenfield in the last eight.

Jonathan Sadler, Gavin Lloyd-Jones, Luke Phillips and David Noel Williams all scored from the spot for Llanrug against Chirk, while goalkeeper Dylan Roberts saved twice, earning United a 4-2 shootout win.

Llanrug won the FAW Trophy during 2013-14 when they defeated Chirk in the final.

The teams were level at 1-1 after 90 minutes, although Chirk were down to nine players after having two sent off, and it was 2-2 after extra time.

Louie Middlehurst scored twice for Chirk, while Sadler (penalty) and Luke Phillips replied for Llanrug.

Llanrug United FC.

Midfield players Ashton Williams and Jack Edwards were the players dismissed. Williams was booked for a second time after conceding a penalty scored by Sadler, while Edwards, making his debut, saw red for a rash tackle.

Llanrug United: Dylan Roberts, James Phillips, Matthew Phillips (Eifion Williams), Sion Phillips, Gethin Phillips, Dewi Clarke, David Noel Williams (capt), Llion Jones, Jonathan Sadler, Aaron Hughes (Gavin Lloyd-Jones), Luke Phillips.

Llanrug have been drawn at home against Greenfield in the last eight. Sam Jones (2), Sion McHugh and Liam Robinson (penalty) scored for Greenfield in their 4-2 win after extra time against Brymbo, who had a player sent off.

Greenfield are joint second top scorers in the Welsh Alliance and their top marksman, Sam Jones, has fired 26 goals in all competitions.

Cardiff club Grange Albion and Merthyr Tydfil’s Penydarren BGC are the two South Wales Alliance club’s in the Trophy quarter-finals.

Albion face a tough test at Conwy Borough in the next round, while Penydarren take on Llangefni Town at home.

Greenfield FC.

Grange won 3-1 at Welsh National League Division One Mynydd Isa Spartans last Saturday having beaten Treowen Stars, Merlin’s Bridge and Ely Rangers earlier in the competition.

Conwy Borough, who in tier three of Welsh football, won 5-4 against Mid Wales League Llanfair United and their team includes 37-goal hitman Corrig McGonigle, 27 of those in the league.

McGonigle, 20, fired 59 goals for Glantraeth when they won the Welsh Alliance Division One title last season, while he netted 64 times for Pentraeth in 2015-16.

Now McGonigle has tier five Grange Albion in his sights.

Daniel Thomas, Paul Rowlands and Harry Galeotti scored in Llangefni’s 3-1 win against Halkyn United. Their reward is an away tie against Penydarren BGC, who have a perfect 23 wins from 23 league and cup matches this season.

Anglesey-based Llangefni, who won this competition in 1992 when it was known as the Welsh Intermediate Cup, face a long round trip of 350 miles to play Merthyr Tydfil-based Penydarren in South Wales.

The fourth FAW Trophy quarter-final is an all-Welsh National League tie between First Division Rhos Aelwyd and Premier club Buckley Town.

Llangefni Town FC.

Rhos Aelwyd won 3-1 against to go into the last eight, while Buckley defeated Welsh League Garden Village 2-1.

Buckley, who only have 15 miles to travel for their trophy clash with Wrexham-Based Rhos, are fifth in the Welsh National League Premier Division with games in hand on all the teams above them.

FAW Trophy quarter-final draw: Llanrug United v Greenfield, Conwy Borough v Grange Albion, Penydarren BGC v Llangefni Town, Rhos Aelwyd v Buckley Town. Ties to be played on Saturday, February 10.

Division One leading scorers: 1 Corrig McGonigle (Conwy Borough) 27; 2 Sam Jones (Greenfield) 16; 3 David Maddock (Llandudno Albion) 16; 4 Harry Galeotty Llangefni Town) 11; 5 Mark Lundstrum (Llanrwst United) 11; 6 Shane Jones (Barmouth and Dyffryn United) 9; 7 Alwyn Roberts (Mynydd Llandegai) 9; 8 Allan Mark Owen (Llanrug United) 9; 9 Iwan Jones (Llangefni Town) 9; 10 Jake Walker (St Asaph City) 8.

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