CEFN 1
HENLLAN 2
LAST year’s league champions Cefn will end 2011 without any silverware to celebrate.
The preliminary stage’s tie of the round was always going to be the meeting of in-form Cefn and Henllan, and a superb display sent the Top Park side through to a first round showdown with Llanrhaeadr.
“It’s probably one of our best performances, I would say,” said Henllan manager Chris Brown.
“There were half-chances for both sides, but we didn’t really create.”
Although disappointed with the outcome, Cefn’s Dilwyn Roberts was magnanimous in defeat.
“They deserved it,” he said.
“In the first half, there weren’t many chances at either end, but what there was, the keepers did well.
“I think it was a case of whoever got the first goal was going to go on to win the game.”
Spectators watching the enthralling tie had to wait until the closing stages for any goals to arrive.
It was Henllan who managed to secure the lead with 20 minutes left to play.
A switch in play saw the ball moved from the left to the right side, where Tom Sheridan’s fine cross was bundled into the net by Steffan Tomos.
After this strike, Henllan were expecting a Cefn response and Steve Hicklin’s hosts did press.
“We had to stay strong and carry on playing the way we were playing, and not allow them possession,” added Brown.
“They did come back at us, but we looked good on the break.”
The vital second goal arrived in Henllan’s favour - and once again, joint-top scorer Tom Sheridan was the creator.
His cross into the dangerzone culminated in Sam Jones heading in his third goal of the campaign.
There was some late hope for Cefn when they were awarded a spot kick after Brown was adjudged to have fouled Gwion Owen in the box.
Dilwyn Roberts stepped up to tuck away the spot kick for his seventh goal of the summer.
“It was a very long four-or-five minutes, but we defended really well.
“Some of the performances from people were fantastic,” said Brown.
Henllan had a quartet of forty-somethings in their squad on the night, plus one 50-year-old, while at the other end of the scale they also had a 16-year-old.
John Roberts and Huw Jones were among the star performers for Henllan, while right back Gareth Owen caught the eye for Cefn.
“At a quarter-past-six I didn’t think we had a team,” added Brown.
“I’m sure Cefn were the same, but both sides really put on a classic match.”
Roberts admitted: “I think we just ran out of steam.
“We have been looking flat for a few weeks.”