Ceredigion Costcutter League Cup
Semi Finals.
It has been a difficult campaign for Llandysul FC after the highs of last term but they defied all the odds to cement their place in the final of the Easter Monday Cup after they defeated St Dogmaels by 2-1.
The Swallows playing ranks were severely depleted mid-season when a number of top performers from their cup and league winning side departed to pastures new and any thoughts of adding to their silverware collection soon vanished.
However manager Chris Coco Davies has been able to pick his squad up from the floor and has turned their season around and now he and his team have a glorious chance to end the campaign with a major trophy when they take on cup holders Newcastle Emlyn.
penalty saved
St Dogmaels, who have been in excellent form in recent months had first use of the wind advantage and they soon settled into their rhythm through influential midfielder Adam Williams and enjoyed more of the ball but the majority of their shots were well off target.
Llandysul came more into the game in the second quarter and bagged a goal on 25 minutes when from a breakaway, a pass from Josh Baker released striker Simon Davies down the flank and he picked out Carwyn Morgan to finish from close range.
The pressure though continued from the visitors but some important headers from the back four of Mark Jones, Dean Jones, Scott Mayes and Sion Price kept the opposition out.
The saints were awarded a penalty just before the interval following a foul in the box but Adam Williams’ spot kick was brilliantly saved by keeper Jon Durbridge.
Llandysul went two goals up within a few minutes of the second half when Morgan finished from close range after he took full advantage of a mistake in the Saints defence but the greens then went hell for leather in attack in search of a goal to get them back in the game.
Manager Steve Williams brought on experienced custodian Ioan Owen and he soon made his presence felt and Saints pulled a goal back when outstanding skipper Jason Williams headed home powerfully from a corner. It was backs to the wall for Llandysul after this as chance after chance was created with keeper Durbridge standing tall and the visitors were very unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty with five minutes to go when Owen was upended in the box but referee Rhys Steadman waived play on.
Saints boss Williams was naturally disappointed at the end as he felt that his team should have been awarded a second penalty and commented: ”I felt we should have been given the penalty as it seemed like a stonewall pen to me and to most of the other players but we also missed some very good chances.
“I am though very proud of my players as we dominated a large part of the game against a very good Llandysul team.”
Swallows manager Davies hailed the win and said:” I think my team deserves huge credit for making it through to one of the big cup finals.
After losing eight players during the season and still getting to the final is a massive achievement in my eyes.”
Newcastle Emlyn progressed to their second league cup final on the trot after they came from behind to defeat Ffostrasol by 3-1. The Wanderers took the lead with one of their few chances when Alun Bowen fired home but the reds dominated possession for most of the opening half.
Former Parc Troedrhiw favourite Dion Phillips set up Adrian Hazelby to level matters just after the break and Emlyn went ahead soon afterwards when Phillips latched on to a long ball and chipped the ball over the keeper and into the empty net. Ashley Summers completed the scoring midway through the half when he spun his marker to slot home the third goal to seal a safe passage through to the final at Aberaeron on Easter Monday.
