JD Welsh Cup.
Aberaeron 2 Montgomery 1.
A moment of magic from talented teenager Thomas Jones helped change the course of this bruising cup tie and gave his team the verdict they undoubtedly deserved. Writes Andrew Clarke.
The seagulls battered the opposition in the opening half and hit the woodwork on four occasions as they piled on the pressure but they couldn’t score and just as the half time break was fast approaching Montgomery managed to poach a goal much to the shock of the home supporters.
Aberaeron keeper Barry Edwards was a little unlucky as he failed to keep out a well taken free kick that edged in off the woodwork to put the visitors in at the break one goal up with the home players left shaking their heads.
A half time team talk from manager Jason Jones seemed to have done the trick as the hosts improved after having played poorly in the last ten minutes of the first half with their frustrations boiling over.
The message from manager Jason Jones at the break was to improve the quality of possession and to be clinical in front of goal but this was not really evident as Aberaeron continued to dominate the play and created further chances in the second half which were spurned in front of goal.
Teen Jones was beginning to come more and more into the game with the assistance of James Hemmings and Dan James who were winning the midfield battle and a superb weaving run and a powerful shot by Jones which was half saved, rebounded kindly to Matty Davies who couldn’t really miss to make it 1-1.
The final quarter was dominated by the home team and chances were created at will but the score remained 1-1 with the clock ticking towards extra time but right on cue Mikey Gornall who had been very industrious throughout, broke forward rounded the goalkeeper and fired the ball high in to the net from an acute angle.
This sparked off scenes of celebration and relief and the seagulls saw the game out for the win they deserved which would have come much sooner had they been more clinical in front of goal and had some of the luck they deserved in a game well refereed by Gareth Evans who was excellent with his use of the advantage but given some unnecessary verbals from some quarters.
