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Welsh Cup Round Two
Buckley Town Vs. Gresford Athletic
Saturday 2nd. October

Gresford had to rotate their squad with Huw and Wyn Jones attending a wedding and Danny Purdie injured. Kevin Todd returned to the defence and Craig Williams made his first start after returning from down under.
Gresford started brightly and Simon Holloway fired wide after a good ball from Carl Andrews on four minutes. Buckley responded with a shot that went well over the bar. Phil Jones then cut in from the left but his shot also failed to find the target. A long kick off Gareth Rowland in the Gresford goal almost set up Simon Holloway but under pressure from the home keeper his effort went over the top. A Buckley corner then resulted in a ten minute delay to the match as Craig Goodwin went over on his ankle and had to be taken to hospital by ambulance.
On the restart it was Gresford on the attack again and a great cross from Simon Holloway evaded everybody. One of the assistant referees then upset the Gresford bench with a late flag as Craig Williams looked the break clear. Buckley at this stage were not causing a great deal of difficulty to the Gresford rearguard with Kevin Todd in fine form.

Half time: Buckley Town 0 Gresford Athletic 0

At the start of the second half Shaun Williams and Simon Holloway combined and Gresford appealed for a penalty as Holloway was bundled off the ball. On fifty five minutes Buckley went one up with a rasping shot from the edge of the box which Rowland tipped onto the post but could not prevent from crossing the line. Buckley then had a ten minute spell of possession but could not create another goal although one effort did come back off the post. In a counter attack Gresford were again appealing for a penalty as Phil Jones set up Simon Holloway for a shot which appeared to be blocked by a Buckley hand. Buckley then hit the post as Gresford changed their formation and pushed more men forward in search of the elusive equalizer. This almost came as Jon Ratcliffe cut in from the left but his cross shot skimmed the top of the bar. Rowland in the Gresford goal then had to make his first stop of the game as he came off his line to block a Buckley forward. It was now all out attack by Gresford and they got their just rewards ion the last minute of the game when Substitute Andy Hughes cut in from the right a fired a goal bound shot that was blocked by a Buckley hand, this time the referee awarded a spot kick which Phil Jones coolly slotted home

Phil Jones penalty finds the back of the net for the late equaliser

FINAL SCORE: BUCKLEY TOWN 1 GRESFORD ATHLETIC 1

Both sides created a missed a few chances but with Kevin Todd prominent in the Gresford defence Buckley could not penetrate the Gresford rearguard. The nearest Gresford came was from a Simon Holloway free kick that Mike Gronnow just failed to get his head to.

HALF TIME EXTRA TIME: BUCKLEY TOWN 1 GRESFORD ATHLETIC 1

With both sides tiring the second half came and went with Matt Davies and Andy Hughes coming closest to breaking the deadlock for Gresford.

FULL TIME: BUCKLEY TOWN 1 GRESFORD ATHLETIC

As the game had to be decided on the day the lottery of penalty kicks would decide the outcome of a good game.

PENALTY SHOOT OUT

Buckley went first

1. Buckley score Gresford Jon Ratcliffe scores
2. Buckley score Gresford Mike Gronnow scores
3. Buckley score Gresford Shaun Williams scores
4. Buckley Score Gresford Phil Jones saved (twice taken kick)
5. Buckley miss Gresford Andy Hughes scores

SUDDEN DEATH

Buckley score Gresford Matt Davies scores
Buckley Gareth Rowland saves Gresford Alan Williams misses
Buckley score Gresford Gareth Rowland scores
Buckley miss Gresford Kevin Todd scores

GRESFORD WIN SEVEN SIX ON PENALTYS

Gareth Rowland saves a Buckley penalty

Kevin Todd seals the tie for Gresford Athletic

FINAL SCORE: BUCKLEY TOWN 7 GRESFORD ATHLETIC 8

TEAM: 1. Gareth Rowland (8) 2. Shaun Williams (8) 3. Dave Lloyd (8) 4. Kevin Todd(9) 5. Mike Gronnow (8) 6. Carl Andrews (8) 7. Jon Ratcliffe (8) 8. Simon Holloway (8) 9. Craig Williams (8) 10. Phil Jones (8) 11.Carl Andrews (8) 12. Andy Hughes (for Carl Andrews)(8) 14. Matt Davies (for Craig Williams)(8) 15. Jeff Hennessey

MOM. KEVIN TODD