Flint Town United produced a five-star performance to send Penrhyndeudraeth out of the Welsh Cup at the Second round.
A first-half brace from the Silkmen’s talisman striker Michael Wilde put any hopes of a giant-killing to bed and Jack Kenny made it three before the break.
Late goals from Mark Cadwallader and a second from Kenny were the icing on the cake to a thoroughly professional performance from the Cymru Premier side who also missed a penalty and had three efforts come back off the post.
Although the visitors started the game well, forcing two corners in as many opening minutes, the Flint goal was never under any serious threat and the hosts soon highlighted the gulf in quality between the top sides.
Wilde saw a succession of headed chances fly straight into the arms of the grateful Morgan Jones and the powerful number nine began to dominate the game with his presence.
In what would become a staple of the match, Jack Kenny raced onto a looped ball over the top before deftly flicking over Jones and watching his shot sail just wide of the post.
The Flint pressure would become too much after 17 minutes when Wilde rose to head Sam Hart’s cross into the back of the net. This was Wilde’s sixth goal for his new club and after failing to hit the mark in the last two matches, a welcome return to form.
Two minutes later Wilde almost doubled his tally but was denied thanks to some heroic defending. Ben Maher lofted a delicate ball into the box, Wilde powered a header past Morgan Jone before one of a ruck of bodies scrambled the ball off the line.
The Michael Wilde show continued throughout the half and on the half hour mark he steered in his second. The big man rose a full head above everyone else in the box and drove a header into the back of the net from Hart’s corner.
Penrhyndeudraeth could not rest and were soon placed under the cosh once more. Kenny was played in over the top by Dan Roberts and shrugging off the challenge, he casually placed the ball into the back of the net to make it three and yield no way back for the visitors.
Not to be outshone Wilde almost added a delightful fourth for Flint. Sam Hart did brilliantly to get a cross away down the left, bursting to catch the ball by the corner flag. The Penrhyn defence cleared but only to Wilde who jinked to his left and poked a shot onto the outside of the post.
On the stroke of halftime, Morgan Jones denied Jack Kenny with a strong hand after the attacker had raced through on goal. During the half Wilde and Kenny were playing the perfect foils to each other and all over the pitch, the Flint players were playing with great intensity. For their efforts Penrhyndeudraeth had only one shot off target.
As the Second half began the visitors showed improved defensive vigor and stopped Flint from playing in their half. Ten minutes in and Tomos Smith fired a low effort wide of the box after a forward ball from Carwyn Price for the first chance of the half.
The Penrhyn pressure would not last and soon Wilde was at it again. Sam Hart found room down the left and found Wilde free again in the box. The number 9 nodded the ball onto the post before Penrhyn cleared for a corner.
With chances for Flint now flowing again it was left to Jack Kenny to create the most opportune of them all, a penalty. Running at the Penrhyn defence he was pulled back by Aaron Griffiths and the ref pointed to the spot. Kenny took the kit himself but was denied by a terrific save by Jones who dove to his left and kept the score at three.
Ben Maher and Mark Cadwallader dragged chances wide in the last twenty minutes but the game looked to be quieting down. Penrhyndeudraeth should shoulder a lot of credit for that fact. However, their defensive exploits had left them looking exhausted in the final five minutes and Flint made them pay.
First Cadwallader was unmarked at the back post to head home to make it four on 86 minutes. Then Kenny capitalised on hesitant Penrhyn defending from a Telor Williams long ball to fire low under Jones and complete the scoring. Tom Weir almost added a sixth moments later but his first-time effort hit the post.
Flint march on into the third round with a professional and capable performance against a resilient Penrhyndeudraeth side who should go home with a lot of pride. Nex up for them is the FAW Trophy tie away to Bodedern Athletic. Meanwhile, the home side entertain Newtown at the Essity.
Flint Town United: Jon Rushton (GK), Jake Phillips, Sam Hart (Telor Williams 64’), Ben Maher, Kai Edwards, Jack Kenny, Michael Wilde (Mark Cadwallader 64’), Dan Roberts, Ross Weaver (Oliver Nugent 64’), Thomas Weir, Danny Harrison
Goals: Michael Wilde 17’ 30’, Jack Kenny 32’ 87, Mark Cadwallader 86’
CPD Penrhyndeudraeth: Morgan Jones (GK), Adam Griffiths (Carwyn Price 53’), Aaron Griffiths, Liam Watson, Richard Jones, Deegan John, Steven Jones (Jack Davis 53’), Iwan Thomas (Marcus Orlik 53’), Tomos Smith, Dylan Owen, Cai Henshaw
Yellow cards: Iwan Thomas 27’, Richard Jones 57’
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