FAW WELSH CUP 2nd ROUND, RHOSTYLLEN 0-2 FLINT TOWN UNITED, ATTENDANCE: 120 (est)
Today attention switched back to the Welsh Cup, as the competition reached the second round. After a visit to the island in the last round, it was a short trip up the A483 to Wrexham for today's action. When the draw was made, the only team left in the Northern section that I hadn't visited was Rhostyllen. When they were drawn at home to Flint Town United, it was a no brainer as far as I was concerned.
Rhostyllen is a former mining village, with many residents working at the nearby Bersham Colliery, which before closure in December 1986 was the last working coal mine in the Denbighshire coalfield.
There is evidence of football being played in Rhostyllen as early as 1879, which is the year displayed on the club badge. The Vicarage Hill field has been used to play football since 1955, when it was donated by Colonel Fitzhugh. The Rec ground is excellent for this level of football, with a railed off pitch and a small covered brick stand.
There have been many clubs who have taken to the field under the name of Rhostyllen (a Rhostyllen & Bersham won the Wrexham Area Division One in 1995 and a Rhostyllen MV also won Division One in 1989) with the last incarnation playing as Rhostyllen United when they folded in 2005.
The reformed club joined the North East Wales League in 2015. Due to cup fixtures, the club have only played 5 league games and won them all, so they are, currently, well placed with games in hand.
In their debut Welsh Cup campaign this season, Rhostyllen have seen victories over AFC Brynford (6-0) Brymbo (1-0) and Berriew (2-1). The club are also through to round four of the Welsh Trophy.
Rhostyllen are the lowest ranked Northern side left in the competition so today would be their biggest test so far as they welcomed Cymru Alliance outfit Flint Town United to The Rec.
Unfortunately for the home side there would be no giant killing, as this game was a step to far, though they did make Flint work hard for their victory.
Stewart Carroll gave Flint the lead when he blasted home the ball from the edge of the area after 10 minutes. Rhostyllen worked their way back into the game and tested Flint 'keeper Ross Dalton with a few efforts. However just before half time, Carroll scored a superb free-kick to double Flint's lead (pictured below).
The Silkmen controlled most of second period and had chances they really should have taken to extended their lead and make their afternoon slightly more comfortable. However as the game moved into it's latter stages, Flint took their foot off the gas and allowed Rhostyllen chances to get themselves back into the tie, with one effort cleared off the line. However Flint held on to secure their passage to the next round and a home tie with Welsh Premier League Newtown.
RADNORSHIRE CUP 1st ROUND, ST HARMON 0-7 LLANDRINDROD WELLS, ATTENDANCE: 46 (h/c)
A chance for some Sunday football is not to be sniffed at so I headed for Mid Wales for some Radnorshire Cup action. However there was a slight change of plan as I was originally heading to Knighton Town and their clash with Sennybridge but the club (very kindly) tweeted me around 10am to say the game was off as the visitors could not raise a team (and with that they also forfeited the tie).
The only alternative (for me) was a trip to St Harmon and their game with Llandrindrod Wells (another club who very helpfully tweeted details to me). St Harmon is a village in Powys on the B4518 road between Llanidloes and Rhayader. The football club was founded in 2000 and play at The Lingen, which is up a lane just off the B4518 in the adjacent village of Pant-y-Dwr.
I'll be honest that due to the very late change in my plans I had not done the requisite research (I was stuck in work when the Knighton game was pulled) and I was struggling to find the ground. Luckily one of the players was a late arrival and he said follow me up to the pitch. The club still get changed in St Harmon next to where their old base was, the now closed down Sun Inn pub, then drive the 1.5 miles to the ground.
The ground is basically sloping a field, complete with the old crusty sheep's dung. The only furniture present was a bit of rope to hold back the spectators, of which there were a fair few today as the locals came out to support their team, and what looked like old dugouts, which in all honesty would not provide an shelter from the elements on a bleak winters day. Luckily today the ground and surrounding vista was picturesque as it was bathed in late September sunshine. Entrance was £2 and the lady on the gate made sure you paid and refreshments were available from a tea hut.
The game was as one sided a you would expect given the clubs respective positions in the Welsh pyramid. Llandrindrod Wells are newly promoted to the Cymru Alliance (step 2) whilst the homesters are members of the Mid Wales South League (step 5).
First half goals from Robbie Nicholls (13, 15 & 30) and Ritchie Powell (19) gave Llandrindrod a 4-0 interval lead before further goals from Johnny Williams (46) and Ashley Jones (57 & 69) added further gloss to the scoreline.
In fairness St Harmon never let their heads drop and kept plugging away and made the visitors 'keeper work on more than one occasion. However it proved a comfortable afternoon for Llandrindrod and they will now face a trip to Rhosgoch Rangers in the next round.
A very, very enjoyable afternoon in Mid-Wales.
There have been many clubs who have taken to the field under the name of Rhostyllen (a Rhostyllen & Bersham won the Wrexham Area Division One in 1995 and a Rhostyllen MV also won Division One in 1989) with the last incarnation playing as Rhostyllen United when they folded in 2005.
The reformed club joined the North East Wales League in 2015. Due to cup fixtures, the club have only played 5 league games and won them all, so they are, currently, well placed with games in hand.
In their debut Welsh Cup campaign this season, Rhostyllen have seen victories over AFC Brynford (6-0) Brymbo (1-0) and Berriew (2-1). The club are also through to round four of the Welsh Trophy.
Unfortunately for the home side there would be no giant killing, as this game was a step to far, though they did make Flint work hard for their victory.
