League Cup - Felinfach 3 v 2 Llanybydder

Felinfach breathed a huge sigh of relief in the last minute of normal time in this League Cup 2nd Round tie against local rivals Llanybydder when Sion Jones rose to head home a perfectly executed cross from Richard Haywood to put Felinfach through to the quarter finals of the competition for the first time in seven years.

The sigh of relief was as much for the fact that they would not have to endure an extra 30 mins of extra time than for maybe getting the winning goal! After what had seemed like months of inactivity due to the poor weather, the players rallied together in the lead up to this game to make sure the pitch was in a fit state to play on.

Nevertheless it did remain very heavy and combined with the lack of recent games the match never quite hit the heights that both teams have shown previously this season.

Felinfach started brightly with plenty of possession and created a number of half chances before a good move down the left ended with a cross from Lee Forrester that Denzil Davies perfectly set up for Richard Haywood to confidently fire low into the Llanybydder net from the edge of the box.

Felinfach continued to play the better football for the remainder of the half but with Llanybydder getting more into the game and looking particularly dangerous at set pieces. However the match was turned after 35 minutes when Llanybydder’s Carl Dyer reacted badly to being booked leaving referee Eirian Morgan with no alternative but to dismiss him for a second bookable offence.

To be fair Llanybydder failed to let this set back affect them and raised their game even further to ensure Felinfach were made to work hard for everything. Even a second goal after good work from Gareth Evans set up Sion Jones who hit a crisp drive beyond keeper/manager Richard Hopson failed to dampen their spirits. Indeed they were soon backing in the game when a cross from the right was met with a firm header which looped over Felinfach keeper Sean Thomas. More pressure grew on the Felinfach defence and Llanybydder got their just rewards after a hopeful through ball failed to be cleared properly and they drew level at 2-2.

With time running out and extra time ominously looming for the clearly exhausted teams Llanybydder made one last effort to win it when a 20 yard shot bounced down off the underside of the bar before being cleared away. Felinfach then made their last effort count when a short corner by substitute Merfyn Davies was quickly played to Richard Haywood before his cross was nicely put away by Sion Jones for his second goal of the game. With only 3 minutes of time remaining Felinfach held on to book their place on the last eight but more importantly will be glad to have got a full game under their belt with no other injuries to report other than tired legs!!