Round-up Saturday 21st of February 2015

Cemaes Bay were on NWCFA Junior Cup duty and played host to Llandudno Albion in a close fought affair with the sides locked at 1-1 after extra-time. Steve Mason scoring for the Bay and Jordan Kane for the Albion, and so to penalties where the visitors ran out winners 6-5 to go through to the semis’.

In the KonX Wales Anglesey Football League, Llangefni Town Reserves, who had played the least number of League games set about `playing catch-up’ and trying to collect maximum points on the way, starting at Llangoed and District last Saturday.
They wasted little time in finding the net, Connor Gordan opening the scoring, after just thirteen minutes. Nine minutes later he struck again to double the lead, which stirred the hosts into action and Callum Graves pulled one back from the penalty spot three minutes later and the half ended with Cewfni leading 2-1.
The second period was quite open as both teams went for broke, and the hosts were caught out on about the hour mark, conceding an own goal and going down 3-1.

Last week Valley booked their place in the Final of the Dargie Cup with a hard earned victory at Llangoed. This Saturday and another semi-final as they travelled to Llanfairpwll looking to book a second Cup Final place in the HUWS GRAY Megan Cup. Despite missing four regulars, with their opponents firmly rooted at the bottom of the KWAFL they were probably expecting an easier passage to the final. If they were, then those thoughts quickly dashed against a Llanfair side, that not only worked hard but matched that with skilful play that made a `mockery’ of their low league placing. They created a number of openings, that saw the visiting keeper racing off his line to `hoof’ the ball clear and the Valley rearguard needed to be on their toes to keep them from taking a lead. It wasn’t that Valley were not creating chances, they were, with Shaun Jenkins leading the line well, but it looked more and more like the half would end goal-less. But when Shaun Jenkins broke through the home defence to expertly slip the ball inside to Jerome Sillence, who matched the run in support of the break, took the ball in his stride and clinically tuck the ball away to deservedly give Valley the lead. Llanfair had their goalkeeper to thank for just the 1-0 deficit!

The second half looked like it was going to mirror the first, with Llanfair’ battling like their very lives depended on it and Valley, wary they too might get caught on the break, were well aware that a second goal was needed to safe guard their passage to the final. Just eight minutes into the second half and the visitors almost doubled their lead with what would have been a bizarre goal. Llan’ full back, Morris, broke down an attack with a perfectly timed interception, to stop the ball reaching Shaun Jenkins, and slid the ball back to his keeper to be cleared up field. Jenkins charging forward to close the keeper down, leapt in, turning his head away just as the keeper connected with the ball, which flew a yard or so before hitting the strikers shoulder and rebounded towards the goal only to shave the upright for a goal-kick rather than a goal.
`Cometh the hour, cometh the man’, as the saying goes. The `man’, in this case was youngster, Jerome Sillence, making his first start of the season who was the scorer, adding to his first half strike. Again Jenkins broke – down the left, ending with a thunderous drive on target, that the keeper – at full length, did exceptionally well to parry, but Sillence, having matched his strike partner, stride for stride, was on to loose ball in a flash and poked it home to give Valley some breathing space at two nil. The youngster could have completed a hat-trick, but snatched at one chance and then saw the keeper pull off two more first class saves. So Valley have two finals safely booked as they hope to move towards adding to that number and going on to clinch the league Title as well
After match quotes....
Manager Adam Archer said about his two goal match winner, Sillence he was `... full of praise for Jerome on his performance, and that all his hard work and determination in training paid off!

Picture: The Valley player evades the tackles before the shot that led to the second goal