West Wales Cup Round 3: Bryncoch 2-1 Neyland

BRYNCOCH’S striker Rhys Adey grabbed a first half brace to help his side to a slender victory over Neyland to progress in the West Wales Cup, writes Gordon Thomas.

This cup tie had been postponed twice, and Neyland lost the home advantage as cup rules meant it then had to be reversed.

And then because of the inclement weather on Saturday, Bryncoch then switched the game to the 3G surface at Richmond Park, home of Welsh Premier League team Carmarthen Town.

Bryncoch are currently unbeaten and sitting second in the Neath and District Premier table, and the Nomads have had a tough season, sitting third from bottom in Division One - but they gave the home side a real contest.

Bryncoch took the lead in the 20th minute when Adey struck an edge of the area shot that went through the legs of a defender and found the bottom corner of stand-in keeper Paul Hannon’s net.

The Nomads pressed for an equaliser, and Wayne Parry headed just wide before Henry Durrant whistled a shot just past the post.

On the 30 minute mark though the Nomads levelled matters.

Durrant and Chandler combined and the latter’s cross fell to Olly Hughes who deftly chipped the keeper for a cracking finish.

However, just before the interval and Bryncoch regained the lead with their second goal.  Adey collected a cross and his assured composure saw the lively striker slot a low shot from inside the box past the outstretched Hannon.

In the second half Neyland had a strong wind in their favour, but they failed to seriously put the Bryncoch defence under pressure.

And what was even more disappointing for the Nomads was they never really troubled the opposition goalkeeper as the Neath and District outfit held firm for the remainder to set up a home tie with Brynawel in the fourth round.

“Despite losing it was a good team performance by the boys,” said Neyland manager Andrew Kemp  afterwards.

“It would have been nice to have won, but we’ve had a cracking run in this cup competition and today wasn’t our day.”

There will still be plenty of Pembrokeshire involvement in the last 32 though, with Hakin United, Herbrandston, Goodwick United, Carew, and Merlins Bridge all still dreaming of an appearance at the Liberty Stadium in May.

Neyland: Paul Hannon, Will Hughes, Sean Hannon, Andrew Kemp, Joe Charlton, Geraint Rees, Scott Jones, Mike Chandler, Henry Durrant, Olly Hughes, Wayne Parry. Subs: Ben Fairbairn, Ben Mathias, Nathan Warlow, Max Bowman-Davies, Andrew Smith.