Heartbreak for Holywell as Penybont make them pay with penalty
Nathan Wood of Penybont celebrates scoring his sides second goal from the penalty spot. Penybont v Holywell Town in the JD Cymru Premier at Bryntirion Park on the 5th February 2023.
Penybont are through to the semi-finals of the Welsh Cup with a late 2-1 victory, surviving a first-half scare from nine-man Holywell Town.
A controversial last-gasp Nathan Wood penalty and Lewis Harling header gave the hosts the victory after Danny Andrews opened the scoring for the Wellmen in the 15th minute.
Rhys Griffiths’ side join Bala Town, Connah’s Quay, and The New Saints in the semis, all of which are teams in the top six of the Cymru Premier play-off conference. Both matches will be played at neutral venues on the weekend commencing Saturday, March 4.
Holywell were the better of the two sides in the first half. Despite having the lesser share of the possession, the majority of chances fell to the Wellmen. Poor defending from Daniel Jefferies allowed Holywell captain Danny Andrews to latch onto a loose ball and cleverly lift the ball over the goalkeeper.
Penybont failed to provide much going forward in the first half. However, Keyon Reffell had the perfect chance to equalise for the home side, but he fired his close range effort wide of the post.
Rhys Griffiths half time team talk proved to be a rousing one as Pen Y Bont came out for the second half looking like a different side.
Kane Owen caused problems all game with his menacing crosses from the left-hand side. His peach of delivery was met by Mael Davies who arrived at the back post. But his close range effort was saved by Keighan Jones who was superb all afternoon in the Holywell goal.
Nearly fifteen minutes into the second half, Penybont equalised when Mael Davies’ immaculate vollied cross was nodded home by Lewis Harling.
Ilan Ap Gareth received his marching orders for a challenge deemed worthy of a second yellow.
Pen Y Bont had plenty of chances to win it, but every attempt seemed to end up in the hands of Keighan Jones.
It wasn’t until the last minute of injury when Pen Y Bont were awarded a penalty. Late Holywell substitute Kai Wallis tripped up Pen Y Bont sub Kai Whitmore and the referee was forced to point to the spot.
Nathan Wood stepped up and found the back of the net despite scuffing his penalty into the floor.
The day went from bad to worse for Kai Wallis as he was sent off for two yellow card offences in the same move. The final whistle blew and a relieved Pen Y Bont find themselves in the final four of the Welsh Cup.
Pen Y Bont: K. Absalom, M. Little, K. Owen, A. Evans (C), D. Jefferies, M. Davies, K. Georgievsky, L. Harling, N. Wood, K. Reffell, J. Yorwerth
Subs: A. Pennock, S. Snaith, K. Whitmore, B. Borge, R. Reynolds
Holywell: K. Jones, J. Cooke, Z. Edwards, M. Hart, K. Edwards, D. Sullivan, T. Bibby, I. AP Gareth Jones, D. Forbes, D. Andrews (C), M. Winslade
Subs: O Buckley, N. Murray, K. Wallis, L. Wiltshire. B McGilloway
