SAINTS MEET STARS IN FINAL

Bay Cup

Semi Finals

Dewi Stars 5  Newcastle Emlyn 5 (Dewi Stars won 6-5 on penalties).

In one of the most dramatic nights seen at Llanddewi for years, underdogs Dewi Stars edged out a talented Newcastle Emlyn side on penalties after a tense, all action affair that will long live in the memory of those present Writes John Jones.

The Stars started the brightest and it was no surprise when they took the lead on fifteen minutes when William Williams netted from close range. The visitors fought back and the ever dangerous Jake Kelly equalised on the half hour when he took the ball around home custodian Rhodri Edwards to coolly finish. Before the break the Stars regained the initiative with an excellent team goal. Siencyn Jones won the ball in the middle of the park before releasing Liam Jones with a defence splitting pass and his first time cross was volleyed home by William Williams in style for his and his team’s second. Indeed the Stars had chances to double their goal tally before the break but a lack of composure saw two gilt edged chances go begging.

It didn’t take the villagers long after the break to go three one up as Liam Jones, who had an outstanding game won the ball on the edge of the box and drilled home a fierce low drive giving Chris Stevens no chance.

After that it was mainly backs to the wall stuff for the Stars as Newcastle began to gain control with their patient build up play, and on the hour they cut the deficit to 3-2 as Dion Phillips turned in the box to guide his low shot into the corner. The pressure was increasing as the Stars defence was stretched to the limit but Twm Ebbsworth, Deian Williams, Ryan Hurrell and Daniel Williams stuck to their guns with several timely interventions and Edwards behind them made a couple of outstanding saves. In the end though the waves of attack finally told as Adrian Hazelby rose above everyone to guide a superb header into the top corner to level at 3-3 and send an already pulsating match into extra time.

If the first 90 minutes were dramatic, more was to come as in the very first minute of extra time, the turnaround was complete as Emlyn took the lead for the first time in the game when Jake Kelly escaped his markers to head his team into the lead. The Stars looked out on their feet, but they found second wind when Deian Williams ventured up from his overworked defensive duties to hammer home the equaliser for a score of 4-4 .Seconds after came the controversial decision as Chris Stevens was deemed to handle the ball outside the box by eagle-eyed linesman Aled Jones. In the protests that followed Stevens was shown a red card by referee Nigel Edwards.

This setback spurred the visitors on more than the Stars and early in the second half of extra time a ten-man Newcastle Emlyn side thought they had won it as Jake Kelly completed an excellent hat-trick as he ghosted in unmarked to make it 5-4.

However with barely a minute left Ryan Hurrell was upended on the edge of the box as the Stars gambled one last time. The resulting free kick was drilled into the box by Daniel Williams but found a Newcastle head who cleared, but only as far as the lurking Liam Jones who struck a bullet of a volley through the crowd to send the match into penalties.

Amidst the tension all the penalties taken were as near as perfect giving both custodians, Rhodri Edwards and sub keeper John Curran no chance with the first eleven right in the corners. Gethin Thomas, Ryan Hurrell, Liam Jones, Daniel Williams, Siencyn Jones and William Williams were successful for the Stars while Sam Hall, Jake Kelly, Sam Skinner, Huw Jonah Jones and Craig Gordon netted for Emlyn but unfortunately for the gallant losers their sixth effort sailed over the crossbar leaving the home team ecstatic with a final to look forward to after what has been a miserable season in the league. There were no losers in a match that was a superb advert for Costcutter league football.

St Dogmaels 3 Crannog 2

The action at the School Field, St Dogmaels was not so fast and furious but the result was neverthless in the balance until late on before the Saints eventually went through to the final when they will meet the Stars.

The hosts who cruelly missed out on winning the league championship just a few days before, opened the scoring with a classy goal from Rhys Jones. The talented greens playmaker beat several defenders before he chipped the keeper from the edge of the box to put his team ahead.

Crannog hit back just before the break when they took full advantage of a defensive lapse before front runner Louis Harding netted from the penalty spot to make it 2-1 and St Dogmaels were always in control after this. Harding tapped home from close range following a flick on by Peter Almond to kill the game off at 3-1 before Crannog claimed a late consolation goal.