Llantwit Major 3-3 Risca United: Cuckoos creep through on penalties past Major
Risca United bounced back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 with Llantwit Major to then defeat them in a penalty shootout in the Nathaniel MG Cup.
Taylor Marsh and Jordan Thomas turned around a two-goal deficit for the Cuckoos after the Major had gone in front after Josh Jones scored a brace and Thomas Walters netted a penalty to cancel out Leon Thomas’ opener.
Llantwit began the game brightly as Rob Jones went past a Risca player to send a cross into the box. Risca were able to clear the danger but an early warning for the visitors.
Jones soon created the first chance of the game getting space down the right, he whipped the ball across the six-yard box with Risca keeper Jordan Dibble getting down to collect the ball albeit at the second attempt.
Llantwit were playing some really good passing football and as Josh Jones looked to get into the Risca box he was blocked off winning a free-kick. Thomas Walters took the shot and tried to curl the ball into the top corner but it went just wide.
Despite their good play, the hosts were almost behind as a sloppy back pass to keeper Jack Lansdown almost gave Lewis Hitchcock the chance to steal the ball inside the box.
Karl Lewis’ side kept attacking Risca and Walters went close with his close-range effort that forced a save from Dibble.
It was Risca who would take the lead first. Leon Thomas finished from close range after a quick passing move.
But that lead would only last for ten minutes. Josh Jones fired a powerful shot into the top corner from the edge of the box to level proceedings.
Moments later and Dibble had the post to thank as Rob Jones got into the box and shot only to see it cannon back of the frame of the goal.
As the half-time break approached Josh Jones was sent in on goal and duly delivered. He rounded the keeper to slide the ball into the net to put Major in front for the first time.
As the added time was almost up a counter-attack saw Thomas Walters brought down in the box for a penalty.
Walters – recently recovered from a long-term injury – took the spot-kick himself and sent the keeper the wrong way to create a two-goal lead a few moments after the restart.
Sean Williams then saw his good header from a corner saved by Dibble looking to kill the game off with a fourth goal.
However, they let the Caerphilly side back into the game as they switched off defensively. Taylor Marsh made the most of it putting the ball into the net from close up towards the hour mark.
The Major then let Simon Berry’s men back into the game as their Cymru South rivals drew level. Jordan Thomas tapped in at close range but not without controversy. Yellow shirted players complained to the referee that Thomas had handled the ball as it fell to him.
The game starting to go end to end with both teams having chances. Rob Jones shot wide and Jonathan Fletcher going close with his chest.
Tom Berry forced a good save from Lansdown as the game entered the final ten minutes. Lansdown was busy in the final moments making a double save from Berry and Jake Morris to ensure a penalty shootout.
Moving in to penalties, Arthur Furness scored the winning spot kick as he made the most of Ioan Emanuel and Josh Morgan’s missed spot kicks.
Llantwit Major: Jack Lansdown (G), Jamie Miller, Dafydd Owen, Jonathan Fletcher (Kris Smith 76) , Sean Williams, Ioan Emanuel, Rob Jones, Nathan Jones (C) (Lee Jones 86), Thomas Walters, Connor Goldsworthy, Josh Jones (Josh Morgan 75).
Goals; Josh Jones 31, 41, Thomas Walters Pen 45+2,
Yellow Cards: Conner Goldsworthy 90+1, Kris Smith 90+1,
Risca United: Jordan Dibble (G), Arthur Furness, Logan Bowkett, Callum Porter, Josh Clayton (C), Lewis Ellis, Sam Palmer (Tom Berry 74), Jordan Thomas, Taylor Marsh (Jake Morris 63), Lewis Hitchcock (Ryan Wheeler 50), Leon Thomas.
Goals: Leon Thomas 19, Taylor Marsh 57, Jordan Thomas 68
Yellow Cards: Josh Clayton 45+2, Luke Bowkett 84, Jordan Thomas 90+1, Lewis Ellis 90+1
