J.Emrys Morgan Cup Quarter Final
Dewi Stars 0 Berriew Reserves 2
Dewi Stars bowed out of the Emrys Morgan Cup at the quarter final stage after they failed to capitalise on numerous chances against an experienced Berriew side.
With five key players missing it was always going to be an uphill struggle for the young Stars side and with seven 16 and 17 year olds in their ranks, with two of them making their full debuts, it was always going to be a difficult afternoon at such an important stage in the competition.
Added to that with Berriew custodian, Steve Rowlands, in inspired form, pulling off half a dozen outstanding saves it was never going to be the Stars day, especially when the visitors opening goal was converted by a home defender!
The Stars started brightly forcing a series of early corners but they could not convert any due to some resolute defending and top class goalkeeping.
Then on the half hour mark the Stars were dealt a blow when a harmless looking cross from the right was met by Daniel Williams as he ran into the box and the unfortunate experienced defender could not avoid turning it in past the helpless 17 year old Rhodri Edwards to give Berriew a half time lead, although veteran Andrew Jones,who won the cup with the Stars back in the early nineties, brought out the save of the match from Rowlands on the stroke of the interval as he dived full length to turn an apparently certain goal destined for the top corner away-this a candidate for any save of the season at any level.
With only a goal deficit, the Stars were always in it, but the heavy conditions curtailed the lightweight Stars passing game while Jamie Loxam, Sam Davies and Ryan Jenkins kept the ball and made the home team work hard for possession. Up front Josh Gethin was a handful all afternoon and on the hour the hard working frontman got his reward when he ran clear to find the bottom corner much to the delight of his relieved team mates to give them breathing space.
To their credit the Stars never gave up, but they had Rowlands to contend with once they breached the Berriew defence. He brought off other fine saves, notably fron a Gethin Thonas free kick which he tipped over from under the crossbar and then bravely from a William Williams run in a one to one situation.
The final whistle in a game well refereed by Wyn Roberts saw Berriew celebrate as if it was the final itself, because they knew they had been in a game, leaving the Stars to ponder of what might have been had they had their full squad been available and also had custodian Rowlands been in just ordinary form.
This game although lost to a good, experienced Berriew side should stand the Stars youngsters in good stead for the future and the seven juniors all 16 and 17 namely Rhodri Edwards, Gethin Williams, Liam Jones, Twm Ebbsworth, Ryan Mackie Jones, Jake Gartland and Rupert Geddes should gain vast experience after being involved in such a tie.
In the semi final Berriew Reserves have been drawn to play Bont whilst Llandysul will take on Waterloo Rovers.
