Football: In-form Llandudno FC wary about cup encounter

Oct 29 2009

LLANDUDNO 5 BERRIEW 1

CYMRU ALLIANCE LEAGUE

CONFIDENCE with a hint of caution sums up the attitude in the Llandudno camp ahead of Saturday’s Welsh Cup third round visit to Pontardawe Town.

Seasiders joint manager Grant Montgomery says the mood is buoyant among the squad after nine straight wins which have brought 26 goals scored and just two conceded, but the trip to South Wales will also be a journey into the unknown.

Swansea area club Pontardawe are next bottom of the Welsh League Division One, but caused a bit of a stir by winning 3-0 at much-fancied Goytre United in the last round of the Welsh Cup.

"We will go there in a positive frame of mind, but as we don’t know what we’re facing we’ll probably be a little more cautions, initially at least," said Montgomery. "This is a big game for the club and one we very much want to win."

Striker Danny Hughes is a slight doubt for Tudno as he struggles to shake off a calf injury, but youngster Toby Jones, who has been out with damaged ankle ligaments, had a chance of making the squad.

Llandudno made sure they go into this weekend’s cup clash in fine fettle after thrashing Berriew 5-1 at Maesdu Park on Saturday to remain in the Cymru Alliance top three.

This was certainly a more emphatic success for Tudno than the 3-0 win they managed against the same opposition in the Welsh Cup earlier in the month, that encounter at Maesdu going into extra time.

The hosts enjoyed a great start when after just five minutes Paul Roberts whipped what looked like a cross from 35 yards towards the back post but the ball flew into the top corner of the net.

Against the run of play Llandudno conceded their first goal in six league games in the 17th minute when a poor corner was miscued into his own net by Neil Coverley.

This served only to inspire the Seasiders to new heights, however, as on 32 minutes Joe Morgan scored with a magnificent scissors kick on the turn after a Sean Eardley free-kick was initially cleared.

Soon after Lee Thomas finished clinically in a one-on-one situation and two minutes later Coverley’s pass picked out Eardley whose cross-cum-shot flew into the opposite corner to where Roberts’ similar effort finished up earlier.

The match was ruined as a spectacle after the turnaround when a fierce wind got up which made passing football well nigh impossible.

Still, Llandudno did manage another goal a minute from time when Dews’ shot was handled in the box and Thomas put away the resulting penalty.

"It’s good to see several players chipping in with the goals this season rather than us just relying on the front two," commented Montgomery after the match.

"Although conceding that goal in the first half was a bit of a shock we still looked solid at the back and after they scored we produced a great response."

LLANDUDNO FC Under-19s are into the last 16 of the Welsh Youth Cup following Sunday’s 5-2 victory at Connah’s Quay Nomads.

Julian Cleary (2), Joe Chaplin, Marc Owen and Niall Owen all contributed to the Seasiders’ victory.

Llandudno are now away to Buckley Town in the third round north on January 24.

Other northern ties to emerge from Monday’s draw in Cardiff were Ruthin Town v Porthmadog, Wrexham v Prestatyn Town.