Llanelli Town make Penybont pay the penalty in Welsh Cup shock

Llanelli Town knocked out Cymru Premier side Penybont 4-3 on penalties after a six goal thriller at Stebonheath Park in the third round of the Welsh Cup.

Ethan Cann scored a brace, netting in both halves after Keyon Reffell and Chris Venables scored in a four-minute salvo in the first-half. Jamie Baker restored the Reds lead but Liam Harling equalised in stoppage time and sent the game to penalties. 

The experienced Keyon Reffell missed the decisive spot-kick as the hosts won 4-3 on penalties after David Lyon’s spot-kick put all the pressure on the forward.

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The away side controlled the opening stages of the match as Josh Yorwerth’s header went just wide and into the side netting. 

The home side could have taken the lead as Ryan Bevan fired a long-range effort that forced Alexander Pennock into making a top save. 

A goal soon came, and it went to the home side as a Mark Little back pass went to the feet of Ethan Cann who went past Pennock and fired into an empty net.  

The forward who has scored six goals in his last three games scored another goal tonight as the home side looked to upset the Cymru Premier side. 

Their lead was cut short though as Keyon Reffell brought things back to level terms as a Henry Jones delivery to the back post to Chris Venables was knocked down to Reffell to put the score level. 

Only just minutes later the away side took the lead as a sweet pass from Henry Jones landed at the feet of Ryan Reynolds as his cross landed onto the head of Venables who fired home. 

The away side could have been two goals ahead as Henry Jones the man who was controlling the game dispatched a great ball to Mael Davies who had his point-blank effort saved by Scott Coughlin. 

After the break the away side could have had a two-goal lead when Venables had a half-volleyed effort saved by Coughlin, as the forward fired his strike straight at the keeper. 

That chance was missed as the home side responded with another strike from Ethan Cann who doubled his tally on the night with a superb curling strike from just inside the box. 

A Henry Jones free kick sent in as Coughlin fumbled the ball as it could have landed to Dan Jefferies and Venables who were waiting to slot it in. 

A Ryan Reynolds half-volley from just outside the box nearly dipped into the top corner as the away side was looking to not see a potential upset. 

Rhys Griffiths a former Llanelli Town player and now Penybont manager saw his former side take a 3-2 lead as Louis Gerrard fired the ball into the box and Jamie Baker had his effort loop over Pennock. 

Just moments after the home side’s third it could have been four as Ethan Cann could have grabbed his hat-trick, but Pennock was forced to save with his feet. 

Reffell was looking for his second of the game, but Coughlin sprang into action to make a brilliant stop to deny the Penybont forward. 

Cymru Premier veteran Chris Venables had a great chance to bring the game level as a Coughlin punch was cleared to the feet of the forward and his effort was fired straight at the keeper. 

Chris Venables was at it again as Mael Davies sent a ball into the penalty area but the forward could not get a proper header onto the ball. 

The Penybont pressure was too much for Llanelli as Keyon Reffell sent a dangerous ball to the back post as captain Lewis Harling fired his effort into the roof of the net.  

Penalty shootout: Llanelli Town (4) – (3) Penybont

After both sides missed their opening penalties, it was Josh Allen who scored the first as it trickled its way over the line and hit the hip of Pennock.  

Mael Davies responded with a top drawer penalty into the top corner to draw things level.  

Llanelli scored their third penalty, but Penybont missed theirs as Coughlin guessed the right way. It flipped the other way for the fourth penalty as Bateman missed his penalty as Yorweth converted.  

The final penalties before sudden death were both converted by Louis Gerrard and Eliot Richards respectively. For the sudden death penalties, it was David Lyon who stepped up and sent the keeper the opposite way whereas Keyon Reffell struck his penalty down the middle.  

Scott Coughlin was the hero on the night as he saved three penalties in the penalty shootout as Llanelli Town booked their place in the next round of the Welsh Cup. 

Llanelli Town:

Scott Coughlin, Miles John (Josh Allen, 90+7), James Parry, Sean Cronin, Jamie Baker, Ryan Bevan, Louis Caramella-Gerard, Samuel Johnson (Tom Johnston, 90+7), Josef Hopkins, Ethan Cann (Callum Bateman, 90+3), Danny Birch (David Lyon, 90+7)

Substitutes: Adam Robbins, Josh Allen, Callum Bateman, Thomas Johnston, David Lyon

Goals: Ethan Cann 28, 51, Jamie Baker 77

Penybont:

Alex Pennock, Mark Little (Billy Borge, 90+2), Dan Jefferies (Eliot Richards, 81), Mael Davies, Lewis Harling, Chris Venables, Henry Jones, Josh Yorwerth, Gabriel Kircough (Ashley Evans, 74), Ryan Reynolds, Keyon Reffell

Substitutes: Alex Harris, Ashley Evans, Eliot Richards, Daniel Griffiths, Billy Borge

Goals: Keyon Reffell 31, Chris Venables 35, Lewis Harling 90

(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell)