RHYL PIPPED IN CUP CLASSIC
PRESTATYN TOWN 4 (Parker 18, Wilson 41, Gibson 49, Moran 77)
RHYL 4 (Connolly 11 & 27, M Williams 30, Turner 90)
(after extra time - Prestatyn win 5-3 on penalties)
WELSH CUP QUARTER-FINALS - FEBRUARY 27, 2010
THIS was the best Welsh Cup tie I've ever seen and certainly one of the finest matches I've ever reported on in my 23 years in journalism.
It was a pity there had to be a loser, but that's football.
Some may criticise Rhyl for losing a 3-1 lead, but this is a young Lilywhites side with great potential.
They will show naiveity, make mistakes, but will also thrill the crowds with their outstanding football.
Rhyl will play a lot worse than they did at Bastion Gardens yesterday and win.
As for Prestatyn, one can only applaud their battling spirit plus the quality of their five superb penalties in the shoot-out.
In a very short time Neil Gibson has put together an excellent side and they now must stand a fair chance of winning the Welsh Cup for the first time in their history, although they face a tough semi against holders Bangor.
Rhyl took the lead on 11 minutes when the home defence failed to clear a Phil Doran corner and Mark Connolly stabbed home in his usual clinical style.
Against the run of play the Seasiders levelled after 18 minutes when Gibson's free-kick from the left was allowed to reach Michael Parker at the back post. From an acute angle Parker managed to force the ball home past keeper Paul Pritchard.
Connolly then headed against the bar from a Doran flag-kick before Parker was through one-on-one but Pritchard went down well to deny him.
Rhyl were back in front on 27 minutes with a fantastic strike from the edge of the box by Connolly, who made it 26 goals for the season.
Three minutes later good work by striker Rob Turner enabled Matty Williams to drill in number three.
Only a fine Jon Hill-Dunt save from an Andy Pearson drive prevented a fourth and at this stage Rhyl looked capable of running riot.
But four minutes before the break came a major turning point when ex-Lilywhite Gareth Wilson made it 3-2 with the sweetest of volleys from 18 yards to set up a fascinating second half.
The next goal was vital and Prestatyn got it four minutes into the second stanza when Paul O'Neill headed down a Jack Lewis free-kick and Gibson fired in to level the tie.
Rhyl continued to pile up attempts on the home goal, Connolly going closest with a free-kick, but suddenly the Lilies shooting was off radar.
Then Prestatyn completed a remarkable turnaround by taking the lead on 77 minutes.
An awful goal-kick by Pritchard went straight to Moran who kept his composure to finish left-footed, but like team-mate Wilson, his celebration was respectful to his ex-club.
Town had chances to seal it, O'Neill heading inches wide before Ian Griffiths was clean through but Pritchard produced an heroic save at his feet.
And Prestatyn paid when Williams played the ball into Turner who controlled and finished from 12 yards a minute into injury time.
EXTRA-TIME
Gibson had a golden opportunity in the first period when he broke into the box from the right, worked the ball on to his left foot, but blasted over with the goal at his mercy.
The rest of the chances all fell to Rhyl, but Matty Williams could only shoot weakly at Hill-Dunt and O'Neill blocked a goalbound shot from Tyrone Kirk.
PENALTIES
Moran scores - Prestatyn 1-0
Matty Williams makes no mistake - 1-1
Lewis makes it 2-1
Hill-Dunt saves Gareth Owen's poor penalty 2-1
Gibson fires home confidently 3-1
Leah coolly sends Hill-Dunt wrong way 3-2
Dave Hayes scores emphatically 4-2
Turner lashes into the roof of the net 4-3
Parker beats Pritchard with power to send Prestatyn through 5-3
TEAMS:
Prestatyn: Hill-Dunt, Harris, Lewis, Hayes, O'Neill, Wilson (Jones 65), Parker, Gibson, Moran, Griffiths (Fisher-Cooke 101), Hannen. Subs: Hoult, Rogers, Williams (GK)
Rhyl: Pritchard, Pearson, Owens, Ojapah, Dowling, Leah, Doran (C Williams 86), Connolly (G Owen 72), Turner, M Williams, Kirk. Subs: Courtney, Strong, Dixon.
MATCH FACTS
GOALS: Prestatyn 4 Rhyl 4
ATTEMPTS: Prestatyn 9 Rhyl 29
ON TARGET: Prestatyn 6 Rhyl 13
CORNERS: Prestatyn 4 Rhyl 14
YELLOW CARDS: Prestatyn 2 Rhyl 1
RED CARDS: Prestatyn 0 Rhyl 0
ATTENDANCE: 683
LO MAN OF THE MATCH
Prestatyn - Michael Parker
Rhyl - Phil Doran
* Many apologies for the lateness of this report but a very heavy Saturday workload took priority.
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16 Comments
Profile
Dave Jones - For all the latest news from Rhyl Football Club, including match reports, news, views and features log on to Lilywhites On-Line hosted by Visitor sports editor Dave Jones.
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giving Gibson a hug at the end with a big smilee on your face, happy to see your Prestatyn mates threw will it be Prestatyn Online next serason then>
wot a fantastic game to witness both sides gave there all credit to them both nice to see cammy has not changed winding rhyl staff up ha ha good luck to them in the next round game i will not forget forb a long time
Stats tell the story. Goal attempts : Prestatyn 9, Rhyl 29. Corners : Prestatyn 4, Rhyl 14.
Goodness knows how that game was thrown away. Seriously missed a Strong or Horan to organise things at the back. Presumably Strong was carrying some injury, makes no sense otherwise.
Would love to see it happen, but I can't see there's anyway that Prestatyn would get off like that again against both bangor and talbot
ColBach, I usually delete stupid comments from trolls like yourself, especially when they haven't even got the guts to include a genuine e-mail address, but for your information I have many friends from many clubs in local football.
I have as much affinity with Prestatyn Town as I do with Rhyl, the only difference being I produce the Lilywhites Online blog for Rhyl FC on the request of my employers.
I am a proud native of Anglesey and support many North Wales clubs.
I wear my heart on my sleeve and while it might not be ethical to embrace a manager at the end of the game it's the way I am and I always will be.
It was that sort of tie, a game of high emotion, and to offer congratulations to a personal friend of mine is, in my book, perfectly acceptable.
It is not taking sides, I would have given Greg Strong, who I have equal time for, an equally consoling gesture if appropriate.
I don't mind you criticising me at all, but to have done it in such a cowardly way is pathetic.
That's the thing with the internet, people can use all sorts of anonymous names and leave their victim none the wiser as to who they are.
"ColBach" could be just about anyone. Well, you know who I am, if you want to say anything about how I conduct yourself come over to the press box at any Rhyl game and tell me to my face.
Any more of your snide remarks will be instantly deleted.
That game is one of the greatest mysteries since the assassination of President Kennedy or why the Rhyl FC Tea Bar persist with powered tea? How did we lose that one? Great match from Prestatyn's and the neutrals point of view but a heartbreaker from ours. Greg's going to have to deliver a motivational talk after that!
It's traditional, after a game, to disect who did what and why, but even after doing that I don't think I'm any closer to answering the question of how did we lose? Was it players not performing? The gaffer's decision to change the team with his substitutions? Prestatyn simply too strong (no pun intended)? All credit to Prestatyn they saw it through to the end and I know many teams would have packed up and gone home after going 3 - 1 down to a team like Rhyl.
We've got a huge game on Saturday against Neath and Greg has got to pick the team up for that because losing will undo a lot of the good work that has been done over the last few weeks and put Neath back into the reckoning for that 4th spot.
agree the defence should of been changed at 3-1 greg on for shaun or phil to steady the ship no disrespect to the young lads just a bit of experience would of helped
oh dave keep up the fantastic work mate and ignore the muppet brave behind a computer
You do a great job Dave with the Lilywhites Online, and what a great advert for the WPL the game was. Like you say, you're always going to get comments like those from ColBach on the internet due it's nature, but most of us know and appreciate the effort, time and commitment you put into both teams. Keep up the great work Dave!
I've no allegiance to either Rhyl or Prestatyn and like to see both teams do well. I celebrate when Rhyl or Prestatyn win. I think both teams doing well and being in the WPL is great for the local area.
Col bach who said that dave had to support rhyl anyway just because he does this blog my son plays for prestatyn but I still wanted rhyl to win
"That game is one of the greatest mysteries since the assassination of President Kennedy or why the Rhyl FC Tea Bar persist with powered tea?"
We now use tea bags Rae but even I know who shot Kennedy lol.
cheers,
Chef
steve i think they have solved the kennedy assassination but not the powered tea at rhyl went one time with my uncle ask for a black tea she told me sorry only white powered tea here ha ha
"steve i think they have solved the kennedy assassination but not the powered tea at rhyl went one time with my uncle ask for a black tea she told me sorry only white powered tea here ha ha "
Are you allowed to say "white powered " on here ? lol
Great game but for the hooligan cutting the goal nets - time to name, shame and get rid
Looking at the footage no way did he cut the net, it was pulled off in celebrating the goal. To allege someone brought a knife into a match which is a pretty serious criminal offence you'd best have some evidence.
Shame about the result but it sounded like a cracking game.
Good luck to Prestatyn in the next round
Stupis allegation to make: when it's clear the lad behind the goal did not cut the ropes, he actually tried to the fix rope back if you care to look at footage (townboy), or is it Daniel ? who first made this redicilous allegation on Citizens Choice.
It was a great game, best cup game i have ever seen Rhyl play.
I thought the Rhyl defence was awful, but all credit to Prestatyn who never gave up.
Always the best content from these prodigious wtriers.