STM Sports got the better of Haverfordwest County for the second time in four days after a 7-6 win on penalties saw them advance to the last eight of the Nathaniel MG Cup.
The game needed spot-kicks to separate the sides, who were tied at 1-1 after Josh Graham had cancelled out Marcus Griffiths’ opener.
Substitute Chris Worsley struck the winning penalty for the Mellons, who will face Cymru Premier side Newtown at Latham Park in the quarter-finals.
The tie took place at Taffs Well’s Rhiw’r Ddar because of floodlight regulations at Llanrumney 3G.
STM started quickly and went close to taking an early lead when a lofted ball forward fell to Graham, whose shot – almost certainly heading for the left corner of the goal – was deflected behind by Scott Tancock.
Dale Gardiner’s side, currently third in the Cymru South, settled well into the game and caused the Bluebirds problems with their speed and quick interplay.
They failed to convert their chances, however, and were punished when Griffiths’ snapshot from just outside the area found the bottom right corner past a despairing Benjamin Boyer, making his debut in the STM goal.
Thoma Frick, the STM Sports midfielder, went close just after the half hour mark when his shot flew narrowly wide of the right post as his side searched for an equaliser.
Griffiths has been a key figure for the Bluebirds so far this season, netting seven goals in league, and he almost scored a second on the night with a curling effort which was well saved by Boyer; who did well to push the shot away to safety.
Ben Fawcett was lively in attack for the Bluebirds, and left Charlie Fripp for dead on the left side of the area before firing a shot across goal which evaded everyone.
Lamin Conteh burst down the right side and put a dangerous ball across goal which Haverfordwest did well to clear away.
The Mellons equalised in comical fashion when an underweighted back pass put goalkeeper Kyle Stuart under pressure, and his attempted clearance cannoned off Graham and into the bottom right corner.
The Cymru South top scorers should have taken the lead when Sam Cawley found himself free inside the box, and, after evading Stuart, opted to square the ball instead of shooting; despite the goal being open.
A ball across the face of goal found Griffiths at the back post, but the striker was unable to turn it home under pressure from the STM defence.
Conteh, a constant menace on the right wing, had a good chance when he came central and unleashed a shot which Stuart was equal to.
Worsley’s shot from nothing rolled agonisingly wide of the left post as STM began to turn the screw in the final 10 minutes.
Neither side could find a winning goal despite a handful of opportunities in the closing stages.
Both teams converted their first two spot-kicks, before Kurtis Rees’ effort was saved by Boyer.
Calum Bateman was successful with the subsequent penalty to give STM Sports the advantage.
The next three penalties were on target, before Chris Hajgato saw his kick saved to send the shootout to sudden death.
Lamin Conteh, Sean Pemberton and David Biggs kept cool to slot their penalties home, before Boyer blocked Tancock’s effort to hand Worsley the opportunity to send the Mellons through to the last eight in what is their debut campaign in the Nathaniel MG Cup.
STM Sports: Ben Boyer, Charlie Fripp, Riccardo Mackenzie, Chris Hajgato, David Biggs, Andrew Gardner, Joe Evans, Thoma Frick (Chris Worsley 78′), Josh Graham (Calum Bateman 75′), Sam Cawley (Marcus Jones 62′), Lamin Conteh
Substitutes not used: Israel Mata, Diop Hamady
Haverfordwest County: Kyle Stuart, Jake Merry (Ryan Hughes 84′), Harri Rowe, Sean Pemberton, Ricky Watts, Scott Tancock, Kurtis Rees, Nicholas Palmer, Ben Fawcett, Marcus Griffiths, Miles John (Jack Wilson 59′)
Substitutes not used: Tim Hicks, Steve Hall
(Featured image: Mike James)
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