NEWFA Cup, Venture 3 vs 1 Llay Welfare

Welfare made the trip to Caia Parc for Saturday’s NEWFA cup tie against Venture. Over the last few years results between the two teams have been very tight indeed with good, competitive matches the order of the day but this year the teams sit at the opposite ends of the league table.

The Llay side took the field with some new faces on show, courtesy of the recently appointed Management Team of Steve O’Hara and Lee Blackshaw, and a change of approach (and formation) was evident from the kick off as Welfare worked hard for each other throughout the first half. Debutant Kevin Douglas opened the scoring after 28 minutes with a 30 yard scorcher but as Welfare looked to see out the half Venture got an equalizer just minutes before the break.

Within 3 minutes of the restart Venture extended their lead and Welfare had to work hard to get back into the game. Some good approach work and slick interchanges on the edge of the box led to chances for an equalizer but a reaction save from the Venture keeper and a clearance off the line kept the scoreline at 2-1. Welfare were unlucky to go 3-1 down in the 76th minute when the run of the ball favoured the Venture forward.

For the remainder of the match Welfare fought hard to get back on level terms and played with the same sense of purpose they had shown throughout. Excellent debuts for Tom Mitchell and Adam Cree and good application all round to a new pattern of play promises much for the future.

Llay team: R Beale; A Davies; A Cree; T Mitchell; K Douglas; K Evans; N Humphreys; M Davies; D Parry; S Allman; O Roberts. Subs: R Carr (for D Parry 45); Mat Davies (for N Humphreys 63); D Griffiths for S Allman 71)