Damage In The Box!: ST ASAPH CITY (Roe Plas Meadows)

FAW WELSH CUP 1st QUALIFYING ROUND, ST ASAPH CITY 18-0 RHYL DRAGONS, ATTENDANCE: 85 (h/c)

I made a last minute decision to head off down the A55, never a wise decision on a Friday evening, to watch this Welsh Cup tie and it was an unbelievable spectacle.

I witnessed the biggest scoreline in all my years of watching football as St Asaph scored a staggering EIGHTEEN goals without reply.

Shrewsbury Town's record Welsh Cup victory of 21-0 (against Mold Alyn Stars, in the 1st round on 27th October 1894) definitely looked threatened at one stage.

The opening goal came from penalty kick in the first minute and, as far as Rhyl Dragons were concerned, it was downhill from that point onwards. It was 5-0 at half-time but within minutes of the restart it was 6-0 and an own goal made it 7-0. It's safe to say Rhyl gave up the ghost at that point.

The funniest thing of the whole evening (to me anyway) was the Rhyl custodian took to the pitch wearing a full Everton goalkeeper kit. He never stood a chance! Once Everton has touched you...

The tie was actually due to be a Rhyl Dragons home game but was switched to St Asaph. Since my last visit to Roe Plas Meadow, way back in 2014, the ground has improved immensely. The pitch is now fully railed off, there is hard standing down the side of the pitch and behind one of the goals and best of all a seated stand is now in place on the touchline. A very smart setup indeed.

EDIT: Sadly Rhyl Dragons never lasted much longer after this. They played their last game at the end of September (another defeat) before folding in November.