J.Emrys Morgan Cup round up.
Teams from Ceredigion kept the flag flying high in the J.Emrys Morgan Cup and it would take a brave punter to bet against the grand old trophy staying in the county for another season.
A Costcutter league hat trick remains a possibility as St Dogmaels, Crannog and Lampeter Town booked places in the last eight of this prestigious competition but they will face stiff opposition from the likes of Penparcau and Bow Street Reserves who also enjoyed excellent wins.
Supporters of all the clubs will eagerly await the draw for the next round on Wednesday night and the chance of a home tie as there seems little to choose between all the teams left with the likes of Trefonen and Bishops Castle also hitting decent form just at the right time.
St Dogmaels made the long trek north to Llanymynech and were not quite sure what to expect from their Montgomeryshire League two opponents. However after five minutes it quickly became apparent that they were in with a decent shout as they went ahead and never looked back after this, and were far better across the park. Front runner Louis Harding claimed this early goal following fine work from Reece Prowse and Jack Thomas and midfielder Adam Williams doubled the lead with a diving header after a fine assist from Rhys Jones.
It really should have been all over by the break such was the dominance of the Costcutter League outfit who were guilty of missing several sitters. Harding then added his second on the hour to seal a safe entry into the next round.
Bow Street Reserves reached the last eight following a well deserved win over Llanrhaeadr Reserves of the Montgomeryshire League. The home side who fielded a mixture of experience and youth produced an all round polished display and should really have won more comfortably.
The Magpies took the lead with a well-crafted goal after a superb cross from Shaun Jones was neatly finished by Neil Davies with a header. Llanrhaeadr equalised ten minutes later following a defensive mix up, but the excellent Jones then headed the home side back in to the lead just before half time.
The second half saw a lot of pressure applied by the Ceredigion team but several chances were missed as the Llanrhaeadr goalkeeper made a couple of good saves. The clinching goal came 15 minutes from the end when Lee Crumpler headed home from a corner.
There was a win also for Bishops Castle who were well worth their 3-1 success over Llanfyllin and the Ceredigion contingent of clubs will be crossing their fingers that they are not drawn away to this club based just over the Welsh Border in Shropshire.
Two goals from former Aberaeron striker Mattie Davies helped steer Penparcau to a 3-1 win over Cambrian Tyres League rivals Padarn United and the division one leaders will be another of the teams to avoid in the draw on Wednesday evening. Penparcau are going strong on all fronts and many observers feel it could be their year to lift a trophy they last won in season 2007-2008 after defeating local rivals Penrhyncoch Reserves. Andrew Gittins fired home their third goal to see off the Padarn challenge.
Lampeter Town were forced to endure a second half battering before they edged out neighbours Tregaron by 2-1. Terry Witts and his men were forced to roll up their sleeves after the break as the Turfs came at them and stand in keeper Paul Simmonds was forced to pull off a series of saves and he and his team were lucky to keep the opposition out. It was Town who came out of the blocks quickest and striker Jason Jones opened the scoring with a shot that took a deflection and he then combined with Gethin Hunter to add his second goal. The Turfs though came flying back at them and a goal eventually arrived when skipper Marc Evans conceded an own goal to leave the tie delicately poised at 2-1.
Tregaron pushed hard late on and it was a case of backs to the wall for the likes of Witts, Christy Gale and Gareth Williams but the visitor managed to ride their luck at times and hung on for a narrow win.
Crannog who were losing finalists in 2006 and again in 2015 are well on course after they fired six past Llanboidy at Cae Dandre.
The visitors started brightly and created a few early chances and went ahead when Rhys Davies calmly netted following a one on one with the keeper. A second quickly followed when hard running front runner Gary Davies powered the ball in off the post after a superb assist from Davies and the former added his second soon afterwards to make it 3-0. The tie was all but over by the break when George Colven made it 4-0 with a tap in after being set up by veteran striker Davies.
Crannog went further ahead when Mike Glover hit the woodwork and the ball rebounded back off a defender for an own goal before Llanboidy scored a consolation goal through Emyr Lewis. The Ceredigion outfit made it 6-1 with the last kick of game when Marc Davies rifled the ball home into the top corner of the net.
Talybont were unlucky to get knocked out as they were ahead on two occasions and scored four goals against Trefonen. Jamie Evans with a brace and singles from Osian Thomas and Clint Middleton however were eventually cancelled out. Talybont took the lead early before their opponents overhauled them and went 4-2 up and despite a late rally and a flurry of goals the Pitmen hung on for a 5-4 success. Graham Dyke and Andy Darmston picked up a couple of goals apiece for Trefonen and there was one for Louis Morris.
Llanilar travel to take on Guilsfield Reserves this weekend for the last remaining slot in the quarter finals.
