Sportsline

HOLDERS AND FAVOURITES ON EASTER MONDAY TRAIL

Simon Davies

Costcutter Ceredigion League Cup

Cup holders Crannog got through a very tough opening round in the League Cup but they were given a huge fright by second division outfit Maesglas.

The Blues who last lifted this trophy back in 1990 during a time when they dominated this competition were by far the best team in the opening half but they just couldn’t turn this pressure into goals and this proved costly in the end as they ended up losing 2-0.

It was Crannog who eventually opened the scoring after 30 minutes and against the run of play when skipper Mike Glover headed home a Rhys Davies corner past keeper Graham Keen to leave Blues manager shaking his head in disbelief after his team had played so well.

The second half was a different affair with the hosts dominating the opening quarter and they  went further ahead from a Chris Welch penalty after referee Jeff Hearn adjudged that Huw Reed had been pulled down in the box.

Maesglas though were still in the game and enjoyed a couple of half chances as did Crannog and the hosts almost went three up when a powerful shot from Dylan Davies was superbly saved by Keen and this was to be the last of the action with Crannog going through to the last eight.

Cup favourites Llandysul who have blazed a trail at the top of division one cruised through into the next round after they comfortably disposed of Bargod Rangers by 7-0. The Swallows went ahead after only five minutes when Scott Thomas volleyed home from ten yards and just nine minutes later the same player got his second when he slotted home from close range after good work from Lewis Jones.

Matthew Newbold then made amends for a bad miss earlier in the game by holding off two defenders and powerfully finishing from the edge of the box to make it 3-0 at half time.

Manager Chris Davies introduced Terry Maynard and the deadly duo of Adrian Hazelby & Simon Davies after the break and Davies quickly made an impression when he raced away upfield to claim the fourth goal and beat the keep with a good finish.

Maynard added a fifth in the 70th minute after he was picked out by Davies with a superb cross which he drilled home on the volley. Centre back Dean Jones added the sixth goal from the penalty spot after Hazelby had been upended and Jones struck again late on with a header to take his tally for the season to seven.

Felinfach also took a step closer to a possible Easter Monday showdown after they sneaked through following a penalty shoot out against Cilgerran. Goalkeeper Owain Williams was the hero of the hour for the Milkmen as he saved three penalties from Aaron Williams, Louis Harding & John Williams.