Flint Town United progressed to the last sixteen of the Welsh Cup after navigating past a tricky Penrhiwceiber Rangers at Glasbrook Field.
Alex Jones put the Silkmen ahead on the brink of the half-time whistle after a one-sided first period. Luke Morgan then levelled the game up in the 52nd minute but then against the run-of-play Mark Cadwallader restored Flint’s lead before Jack Kenny ensured the victory.
Dean Brown’s side battled well and defended heroically but ultimately Neil Gibson’s men showed their Cymru Premier class.
From the first whistle, Flint looked like they’d cause problems from Jake Phillips’ long throws. He launched one early on and Mike Wilde glanced a header past the post.
Wilde was pinpointed as the man to mark and Brandon Hill made a good last-ditch bloke to deny him from close range.
Rangers goalkeeper Daniel Field was then forced into two good saves, both from Maher. Maher first finessed a shot that Field saved acrobatically before saving his laced volley a few minutes later.
Jack Kenny, operating on the wing then stung the palms of Field with a powerful strike.
Quiet in attack, Penrhiwceiber then carved their first opportunity as a route one ball from Field found Warren Jones whose shot went well over the bar.
Up the other end, a goalmouth scramble came as Kenny laid a pass to Wilde from two yards out but they held out.
Wilde then from a few yards further slung a shot over the bar, cutting a frustrated figure.
For all their blood and guts shown in the first half, Penrhiwceiber’s goal was breached after many efforts. A cheaply given corner was punished by Alex Jones who leaped above everyone to head home.
Words of encouragement came from Dean Brown in the dressing room with a performance to be proud of against one of Welsh football’s top teams.
Penrhiwceiber then restored parity through a set-piece. A corner was whipped in and almost in slow motion, Morgan nodded past John Rushton.
Morgan’s equaliser made Ceiber fearless and moments after the goal they made it difficult for Flint as Joseph Jenkins and Brandon Hill linked up well before Hill sliced a shot over the goal.
Against the run of play though Flint restored their lead and it was a Phillips long-throw which created it. Flint’s main weapon eventually found its way to Mark Cadwallader who slid home.
As Penrhiwceiber began to commit men forward and as a result they were vulnerable on the counter. Maher broke well to find Kenny but Field came out and denied him in a one-on-one before the rebound was well blocked by Brown.
With twenty minutes remaining, Kenny gave Flint a two goal cushion. A simple ball over the top cut through Ceiber and Kenny duly delivered with a composed shot that went underneath the goalkeeper.
The last quarter of the match saw the game fizzle out with neither side making any real opportunities.
Flint continued to break on the counter though but as Kenny broke to find Maher, Field denied him a goal.
The referee then blew the whistle that ended the Welsh Cup run of Penrhiwceiber but the the well-filled Glassbrook Field faithful applauded the efforts of the home team.
Penrhiwceiber Rangers: Daniel Field, Brandon Hill, Scott Lewis, Dean Brown, Luke Morgan, Warren Jones (C), Joseph Jenkins, Ceirion Harris (Shay Friel, 71), Ricky Carter (Jaymie Wearn, 75), Brandon Davies, Morgan Grahame (Jack Howe, 45)
Yellow Cards: Brandon Davies 88,
Goals: Luke Morgan 52′
Flint Town United: Jonathan Rushton, Jake Phillips, Sam Hart, Ben Maher, Kai Edwards, Jack Kenny, Alex Jones (C) (Telor Williams, 85), Michael Wilde, Callum Bratley, Daniel Roberts (Ben Nash, 56), Danny Harrison.
Yellow Cards: Daniel Roberts, 53Ben Maher 61′
Goals: Alex Jones 45+3, Mark Cadwallader 59, Jack Kenny 75’
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