Chris Quick scored a hat-trick as Canton Liberal defeated AFC Whitchurch 4-2 to progress in the FAW Amateur Trophy.
The prolific front-man cancelled out KayJay Williams’ first-half opener with an equaliser on the stroke of half-time before a quick-fire double around the hour mark. Nathan White was also on target for the Libs after an early introduction due to an injury to Nathan Patterson.
Joshua Joyce scored a consolation goal for Whitchurch however it was the Premier Division side that progressed, defeating their Cardiff rivals at Ocean Park Arena.
Whitchurch’s Williams had the games first chance, sending his header just wide of goal from a throw deep into Canton’s half.
Canton worked the ball around the pitch and Lewis Patterson was able to find Christopher Quick in space inside the box. Quick fired a low shot but it was wide of the goal.
Richard Lane had an effort from a free-kick sending the ball low under the wall but it was deflected and easy for Dylan Parson-Townsend.
Nathan Patterson who had looked bright and was last week on the score sheet was forced off and replaced by former Grange Albion forward Nathan White.
Whitchurch had a free kick just inside the Canton half which was sent into the box, coming off a Canton player for a corner. Williams met the corner and his header went just wide of the goal.
The home side had another chance from the same set-piece but this time on the edge of the area. Shaun Davies went close as his effort ended in the side netting.
Whitchurch were piling on the pressure and took the lead for all their early pressure. From a good cross on the right the ball was met again by Williams but this time he sent the ball into the net.
In an attempt to further add to their lead, Nathan King tried from a distance to make it two but pulled his shot just wide.
Canton tried to respond to their early setback as Lane took along range effort that forced Parson-Townsend to punch. The ball was picked up by Ahmed Almansour who flashed a quick shot across the face of the goal.
Canton stepped up the pace as the half was coming to an end. Quick saw his close-range shot saved before the follow-up shot was cleared. Canton were level just moments later as Quick put the ball away from close range, the late pressure telling.
Williams had a couple of good chances early in the second half as Whitchurch looked to retake the lead. First, he turned to create space but shot well wide from distance and then he had an effort saved from edge of the box by Cohen Riella.
Canton started to pressure and were getting close to taking the lead, Quick causing problems for the Whitchurch defence.
Just after the hour and Canton did have the lead. Latching on to the ball played in behind Quick was in on goal and his powerful low shot went into the corner just after the hour mark.
Immediately after, Canton had a two-goal lead as they made the most of some sluggish defending. A fast break saw Quick playing though on goal and he rolled the ball into the corner as the keeper came charging out.
In search of a response, Whitchurch’s creative spark Williams put a free-kick into the box was headed onto the top of the bar as Whitchurch looked to get back into the game.
Dale Lewis, on as a sub for Canton made an instant impact as he made sure of the victory. Making a good run down the right his ball into the box found Nathan White who was able to tap the ball in to make it 1-4.
The visitors tried to take the sting out of the game passing and building slowly from the back. Whitchurch kept going and did pull a goal back after 86 minutes with Joshua Joyce heading in from a corner.
There would be no late show from Whitchurch though with the Libs progressing in another Cup competition.
AFC Whitchurch: Dylan Parson-Townsend (G) (Tom Harding 69), Mehroze Lllani, Tom Smith (C), Thomas Maton (Jamie Reid 70), Chris Shaw, James Malloy, Shaun Davies, Nathan King, KayJay Williams, Joshua Joyce, Yusuf Saqib (Andrew Samuel 53).
Goals; KayJay Williams 24, Joshua Joyce 86.
Yellow Cards: KayJay Williams 58, James Malloy 86
Canton Liberal: Cohen Riella (G), David Trace, Christopher Dye (C), Curtis Griffin, William Laventure (Dale Lewis 71), Ahmed Almansour, Miguel Edu Ebono Ada, Richard Lane, Christopher Quick, Lewis Patterson (Nathan White 12), Ope Gbadeyesin.
Goals: Christopher Quick 45+1, 62, 63, Nathan White 76
Yellow Cards: Miguel Edu Ebono Ada 1, Christopher Quick 83
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