Cymru South 2-4 Cymru North – North to represent Wales in Regions Cup after dramatic comeback
Cymru North celebrate winning the play off. Cymru South v Cymru North in the UEFA Regions Cup Playoff at Old Road on the 15th May 2022. Credit: Lewis Mitchell
The Cymru North will represent Wales in the UEFA Regions Cup after defeating the Cymru South 4-2 at Old Road.
Dylan Allshorn and Jake Cooke put the North ahead after Liam Morris and Jamie Cumming brought them level following Aiden Lewis’ brace for the South.
Guy Handscombe’s side will now wait until November to play the Czech Republic, Sweden, and Northern Ireland in the intermediate round of the competition.
After a strong start from both sides, it was the South that had the first sniff at goal. Lewis’ first-time volley had to be touched over the bar by Rob Dascalu.
Dascalu then made a superb reactive save as he denied Sean Williams who broke free at the back post.
The opening goal came when Lee Baldock’s low cross evaded everyone and found Lewis in space to drill a shot in from the underside of the crossbar and go over the line.
To close out the first period, Matty Hill’s shot deflected just past the post but from the resulting corner, they couldn’t challenge from it and the whistle was blown.
Then in the first real attacking movement of the second period, the hosts took a two-goal lead. A high foot raised on Lewis gave him a free-kick positioned centrally in the box and his low-driven attempt deflected past the goalkeeper.
The South defence were caught napping and conceded a cheap goal five minutes after the South’s second. The ball fell kindly to Liam Morris who slotted a low shot past Morgan Davies.
Undeterred by being a goal down, the North were firmly on top and were causing some problems from Chris Cathrall’s long throw-ins.
Proceedings were then levelled as a long throw from Cathrall was launched into the box and Jamie Cumming got a touch to level up the game after getting the seal of approval of it being a legitimate goal from the linesman.
Hoping to restore their lead, and over the top ball from Vaughn Fowler met the head of Christian Davies but the Pontypridd striker couldn’t keep his header down.
Ten minutes before the end, the North took the lead for the first time, the mercurial Allshorn found space to squeeze a low shot into the corner of the goal.
Making sure of the victory, Jake Cooke found space at the back post to ensure the win by lacing it home.
Knowing three goals were needed with away goals counting double, the South piled bodies forward but left themselves vulnerable at the back. Ultimately the North held out for their 4-2 scoreline and thus qualified.
Cymru South: Morgan Davies, Lee Baldock, Vaugh Fowler, Sean Williams (Adam John, 81), Kris Evans, Aiden Lewis, Nathan Jones, Connor Goldsworthy (Dafydd Owen, 38), Josh Jones (Liam Samuel, 63), Christian Davies, Sam Johnson.
Goals: Aiden Lewis 39, 49’
Yellow Cards: Kris Evans 56’
Cymru North: Rob Sascalu, Jake Cooke, Chris Cathrall (C), Jordan Carrington, Sam Rickett, Jamie Cumming, Liam Morris (Jake Jones, 87), Matty Hill, Dylan Allshorn (Kham Wyton, 83), Callum Parry (Meilir Williams, 46), Cai Roberts.
Goals: Liam Morris 55, Jamie Cumming 67, Dylan Allshorn 79, Jake Cooke 85’
