Llandyrnog United FC vs Llay Welfare FC

This was a game that had plenty for the neutral but must have left the management teams of both sides shaking their heads. Good goals/ bad goals, bizarre refereeing decisions, penalties that were and penalties that weren’t, off the ball incidents, all spread throughout 120 minutes of football.

Welfare took the lead after 13 minutes when Johnny Taylor was brought down in the box and duly converted the spot kick. Within 4 minutes Llandyrrnog were back on level terms when a great deep cross from the left touchline was buried at the far post with an unchallenged header. A copycat goal 9 minutes later put Llandyrnog 2-1 up and the same scenario was repeated in the 38th minute to give the home team a 3-1 interval lead.

Welfare buckled down in the second half and started their revival early when a great through ball from Ian Thomas was finished by Daz Parry in the 48th minute. Steve Halliwell was dismissed in the 51st minute but moments later Welfare were level with another penalty from Johnny Taylor. Down to 10 men the Llay team battled hard throughout the half, their best chance of finishing the tie in normal time fell to Luke Cahill who headed a Dan Parry cross wide.

Extra time progressed with both teams evenly matched, a Johnny Taylor shot was deflected wide as the first half came to a close. It was Llandyrnog who sealed the tie after 113 minutes with a scrappy goal turned in from a corner following much pushing and shoving in the box.

Llay Team: S Evans; J Mountford; D Browning; A Marshall; S Halliwell; Dan Parry; E Morris-Jones; M Davies; J Taylor; Daz Parry; I Thomas.
Sub: L Cahill (for Daz Parry 63 mins)