TREFNANT 2
LLANRHAEADR 0
WHILE all talk at the start of the week was about a possible Cefn Summer League and Shield double, by 9pm on Friday minds had turned to an even rarer double.
Terrific Trefnant have won just four games all season in a troubled league campaign as they finished at the bottom of the table, but a run of three consecutive wins in the knockout event means that Pete Featham’s charges claimed their third North Wales Times Shield in the space of eight years - and their eighth Shield overall.
It was definitely a deserved triumph for the Memorial Park side, who dominated a weakened Llanrhaeadr outfit, but the destination of silverware ultimately came down to a riveting 60-second spell midway through the second half.
After finding themselves under the cosh for much of the previous 65 minutes, Llanrhaeadr had their first bright spell of putting Trefnant under some semblance of pressure.
Llan were just inches away from grabbing a surprise leveller as Rhys Llwyd’s strike from the edge of the box defeated Trefnant number one Stu Roberts, but clattered back into play after striking the crossbar.
Had that gone in, the outcome could well have been different, but within 30 seconds Trefnant doubled their advantage to seal the deal.
Duncan Midgley was played straight through as Trefnant countered immediately and he coolly rolled the ball beyond stand-in Llan stopper Llion Edwards.
Matrimonial matters hit Llanrhaeadr’s chances of achieving victory before kick-off.
Gethin Lloyd was getting married on Friday and this left Llan without the likes of Ian Evans, Chris Williams and Luc VanderBijl for the final.
Trefnant, on the other hand, were able to add pacy frontman Duncan Midgley to the squad that accounted for league champions Cefn in the semi-finals and after a promising Llanrhaeadr start, Trefnant took control of proceedings.
After a quarter-of-an-hour, Midgley finished off the best move of the match up to that point, but he was flagged offside, while Midgley posed another threat a couple of minutes later when he bustled his way into the box, but his cross lacked conviction and was cleared.
Ben Musgrave had a great chance to open the scoring from the ensuing corner, but missed his kick from 10 yards out.
Huw Roberts was an impressive figure at the heart of Llanrhaeadr’s defence, but had his work cut out in dealing with the pace threat of Midgley.
He managed to halt the quick Trefnant frontman in the area by means foul on 23 minutes, but instead of pointing to the spot the referee played a brilliant advantage and Jordan Owen ghosted in to open the scoring.
That was Owen’s first goal of the season and it was just reward for the tricky wideman, who deserved to be named the man of the match.
Trefnant really should have been out of sight by the interval as they created - and wasted - a host of cracking chances.
After half-an-hour Midgley was given the freedom of Rhewl when he was sent clean through, but from only six yards out his drive struck the woodwork.
A minute later Midgley turned provider with a great little dink through to Phil Evans, but with the goal at his mercy Evans failed to get a shot in.
Jamie Jelleyman was another impressive Trefnant figure on the night and he set up James Wynne for the next chance, but his placed shot crept inches wide of the upright.
There was still time for Trefnant to forge another chance before the break with Midgley again having the goal in his sights, but this time Llanrhaeadr keeper Llion Edwards made a great save.
At the other end, Llanrhaeadr found it difficult to create anything of note, but as the half wore on Rhys Llwyd, Sion Davies and Gari Evans were becoming more prominent figures.
Evans had a great chance at the far post nine minutes before the half-time cuppa, but after a spot of Trefnant confusion he couldn’t tuck it away.
Trefnant remained on the front foot when the second half dawned and just two minutes after the restart Phil Evans’ header put Midgley clear, but his lob narrowly missed the target.
It was Evans’ turn to look towards the aerial route four minutes later, but the result was similar as his lob missed the far post by inches.
Llanrhaeadr were restricted to efforts from distance at this point, with Gareth Roberts and Sion Davies both trying their luck with pot shots that failed to trouble Stu Roberts.
The main threat was still at the other end and a great block from Huw Roberts denied Jamie Jelleyman following a goalmouth scramble, while Llan attempted a quick breakaway with Gareth Roberts on the ball, but Trefnant centre back Russ Vaughan’s fine tackle downgraded the threat.
Llan were enjoying their best spell of the game and Sion Davies managed to find his way through on the left, but from a tight angle his shot was saved by Trefnant stopper Roberts.
That effort arrived just a couple of minutes before the Llwyd / Midgley incidents and after Trefnant’s second strike, Llanrhaeadr gave as good as they got.
Gareth Roberts managed to get a touch to a dangerous cross, but couldn’t steer it beyond Stu Roberts and with 13 minutes to play Llanrhaeadr had a great chance to reduce the deficit.
Trefnant went to sleep as Gareth Roberts fired a cracking ball into the area, but Matthew Mellor couldn’t find the correct connection to put the ball in the net.
Phil Evans could have put the game to bed soon after, but his chip lacked one crucial element - it failed to leave the ground!
Llanrhaeadr continued to press as the minutes ticked away, while Trefnant were comfortable in repelling most of any later threats, although Llan did have an injury time chance cleared off the line.