HUWS GRAY MEGAN CUP FINALIST DECIDED

ANDREW BARKER STEPS IN TO BRIDGE THE GAP

The First semi-final of the HUWS GRAY MEGAN CUP took place on Monday night with Menai Bridge Tigers welcoming Trearddur Bay Utd., reserves, and eager to make amends for their dismissal in the NWCFA junior Cup semi-final at the hands of Aberffraw and five minutes into the game their man in striking form, David Baston, was on hand to tuck away a flick on from Lance Williams. Trearddur set about pulling it back with some determined play and it was no surprise when Dewi Thomas struck a shot that sailed over Keeper Lee’s head to make it all square. But Bay suffered a set-back when a defender trying to clear a cross shot from Sion Hogan only succeeded in turning it into his own net and Tigers led at the break.
The second period saw both sides enjoy their moments but no further goals, that is until, on the hour, when Manager Sean Brett decided to `pep’ things up and the introduction of two subs paid dividends almost immediately when a powerful header by Liam McCann -another young man making an impact in midfield – skidded to the right hand corner, and though the keeper looked favourite with less ground to make up, but the sheer pace of Andrew Barker saw him leave the keeper floundering and casually `chip’ the ball in to the unguarded net to increase the lead and lift their confidence. Minutes later, the youngster showed there is more to his game than just pace as he took a ball under instant control and in doing so lost one defender before spinning past a second and laying an inviting ball to Lance Williams that was just begging to be put away, and Williams did not disappoint making it 4-1. After the game the point was made that the management “not for the first time this season made changes that had a winning impact on the game”., and it also showed “the depth of his squad, and equally as important it was a good night for his youngsters with David Baston, Daniel Hughes, Liam McCann and Andrew Barker all had fine games which bodes well for the future.. So that’s one finalist in Tigers but who will they meet in the final.

Picture: ANDREW BARKER bearing down on goal yet again

BEFFRO BATTLE BACK FROM TWO DoWN

The following night, Tuesday that question was answered as Morawelon met `in form cup team’, Aberffraw. Having disposed of Menai Bridge Tigers in last Saturdays NWCFA Junior Cup semi-final, Beffro’ went in to this game full of confidence. But that took a severe dent when Liam Patrick Williams gave the Moras’ an early lead finding the net direct from a corner. If that wasn’t bad enough the visitors went two down when Matt Jones struck mid-way through the half. The normally rock solid Beffro were rocked to say the least but gained a life line when five minutes before the break they were awarded a penalty..........step forward Saturdays two goal hero, Gary Bolton......and it’s 2-1. If the first half belonged to Morawelon the second period began to favour the visitors and when Iwan Roberts, just outside the box, let fly with a shot that flew into the top corner for the equalizer it was game on. Both sides had chances but with some eight minutes remaining Richard Roberts, not for the first time, again broke down the flank and pulled an inviting ball across the face of goal and went in off the unfortunate Matt Jones to leave 3-2 score-line and book Aber’ their second final in four days,whilst Morawelon can now focus on the NWCFA Junior Cup semi-final fixed for less than 24 hours after this final is being played..

So it’s Aberffraw v Menai Bridge Tigers in the Final of the Huws Gray Megan Cup, Manager Gerallt Roberts and his squad were obviously pleased and his assistant Tony Jones who enjoyed a League and Dargie cup double last season with Pentraeth was quick to point out “ the LEAGUE is still within our grasp”...