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.

St Asaph goalscorers - and there were a few!!

Damian Ketley ⚽️

Jackson Brewerton ⚽️

James Williams ⚽️⚽️⚽️

Alex Hall ⚽️

Jack Davies ⚽️

Ryan Roberts ⚽️⚽️

OWN GOAL ⚽️

Ray Knight ⚽️⚽️⚽️

Ellis Blench ⚽️

Josh Brown ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️

CPD Y FELINHELI (Cae Seilo)

ARDAL LEAGUE NORTH WEST, CPD Y FELINHELI 0-1 CPD PORTHMADOG, ATTENDANCE: 420

There were few options for a new ground 'tick' this Friday evening, so I decided on a revisit to Cae Seilo, the home of Y Felinheli. 

So why the revisit?

Well, my previous visit was back in September 2004 for a Welsh Cup game against Mynydd Isa. The score was 1-1 at half time but he first half was played in torrential rain. The grass was slightly long and the rain washed away the pitch markings. The referee therefore had no option to deem the pitch unplayable and abandoned the game.

It's only taken 18 years but I returned to see a full 90 minutes!

Since my last visit in 2004, a seated stand has been
erected at Cae Seilo.

Y Felinheli is a Welsh speaking village on the banks of the Menai Strait, situated between Bangor and Caernarfon. It is famous for it's harbour which is a hub for sailing and pleasure boating. The football club was founded in 1977 as Port Dinorwic FC (the English for Y Felinheli) before changing to the Welsh language name in 1978.

The club joined the Caernarfon and District League, and were champions in 1982 and 1983 before becoming founder members of the Gwynedd League in 1983 and inaugural champions in 1984. The club joined the Welsh Alliance before dropping back down the leagues. The club were back in the Welsh Alliance by 2016 and they were declared champions on points per game in 2020. When the restructuring of Welsh football took place in that year, the club were placed in the Ardal League North West, the third tier of Welsh football.

There was a huge crowd at Cae Seilo this evening, most of whom had travelled up the A487, to watch Porthmadog earn a vital three points as they attempt chase down Denbigh and Mold Alex at the top of the table. The homesters had nothing to play for, but they made it extremely difficult for Porthmadog.

The solitary goal came after 21 minutes courtesy of Rhys Alun. Porthmadog had enough chances to win this game more comfortably but Guto Hughes in the Y Felinheli goal was in inspired form and made a number of tremendous saves.

He did get away with one in the second half when he must have thought a wayward cross was going over the bar and he let it go but it dropped under the bar, and clearly over the line, and the ball bounced out. The officials missed it and waved play on much to the fury of the Porthmadog fans behind the goal.

There was a few familiar faces in attendance and it was good to chew some fat whilst enjoying a great game in a wonderful setting. This is what groundhopping is all about. Da iawn!