LEAGUE CUP FINAL LOVE AFFAIR

By Dave Jones on Feb 15, 08 12:32 PM

WHEN it comes to the Welsh Premier League Cup no club can boast as successful a record as Rhyl in recent seasons.
The Lilywhites reached their fifth final in six years when they knocked out Bangor City 3-1 on aggregate at Farrar Road on Tuesday.

The League Cup was the first trophy John Hulse won as Rhyl manager in 2002/03 when the Lilies defeated Bangor in the final on penalties at Belle Vue.
Here is Rhyl's outstanding record in the competition in the past five seasons:

2006/07 FINAL - Caersws 1 Rhyl 1 (aet - Caersws won 3-0 on penalties)
One factor dominated this final at Park Avenue - wind.
The fierce gusts swirling around Aberystwyth's ground made this supposed showpiece a total farce.
After a scoreless 90 minutes, Graham Evans put Caersws ahead in the first period of extra time with a sharp turn and unstoppable curling shot.
Dave Cameron equalised in controversial circumstances when he appeared to bundle keeper and ball into the net, but referee Brian Lawlor allowed the goal so it went to spot-kicks.
The shoot-out was a joke. The ball would not even stay still on the penalty spot, players often having to strike a moving target. Andy Moran, Cameron and Mark Connolly all missed for Rhyl and veteran Colin Reynolds netted the decisive third penalty for the Bluebirds.

2005/06
Eliminated at Airbus 3-2 in round two.

2004/05 FINAL - Carmarthen Town 2 Rhyl 0 (aet)
Sweet revenge for Mark Jones' Old Golds who had been soundly thrashed by Rhyl in the final the season before.
No goals were scored in the 90 minutes at Latham Park, Newtown, but Rhyl suffered a blow when Lee Hunt was sent off in the 85th minute.
Richard Kennedy (101) and Omar Abdillahi (104) hit the goals in extra time that scooped Carmarthen the cup.

2003/04 FINAL - Rhyl 4 Carmarthen Town 0
Two days after clinching a first ever Welsh Premier League championship at Porthmadog, Rhyl made it a double by lifting the League Cup on the May Bank Holiday Monday at Latham Park, Newtown.
Andy Moran was in top form, notching a hat-trick on 13, 58 and 84 minutes while substitute Chris McGinn also featured on the scoresheet.
Just four of that team still remain at the club, Gary Powell almost exclusively employed in a coaching role nowadays.
RHYL: Smith, Brewerton, M Powell, Atherton, Edwards, Walters (Adamson 82), Wilson, Limbert, Moran (Jackson 84), G Powell (McGinn 60), Graves.

2002/03 FINAL - Rhyl 2 Bangor City 2 (Rhyl won 4-3 on pens)
This was the biggest trophy Rhyl had won in Welsh football for 50 years up to this point - and they did it at Belle Vue.
The Lilywhites took a 2-0 lead courtesy of Andy Moran and Chris McGinn, but City battled back to level through Ricky Evans and Owain Tudur Jones.
Chances aplenty fell at both ends, but no more goals were scored and penalties were needed to settle the issue.
Although McGinn put away the winning spot-kick, it was Paul Smith - now Bangor's keeper but then a Rhyl-ite - who was the hero of the shoot-out.