DRUID SPORT & LEISURE WELSH NATIONAL
DIVISION ONE LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINAL FIRST LEG
CEFN UNITED 1 GRESFORD RESERVES 3
By Captain Web

This was the first of three semi-finals we will be competing in within the next 14 days and if the rest are as good as this one then there will be no complaints.

I guess I am one of our harshest critics and as such would have to say this wasn't one of the best of Gresford performances but on a postage stamp pitch which was a real mud bath, we battled well against a Cefn side who were much bigger and more physical.

We had a dream start though with Sooty firing us in front after just 3 minutes with a free kick from the edge of the box which gave Brian Badwick no chance. Robbie had been upgraded to midfield and his runs down the right flank reeked havoc leaving several defenders in a spin but after clashing with keeper Badwick, he faded and eventually had to be replaced.

Matt Davies doubled our tally when he was alert to react to a cross from the right and his shot low to Badwick's right was fumbled into the net.

Huw Jones had a glorious chance to extend our lead but his low cross shot went just wide of the post.

A two nil half time lead was our game plan but what happened 10 mins into the second half was not to script. A cross from the right was not dealt with and John Paul Wood out jumped Robbie to send a blistering header past Pricey. Wood to be fair was Cefn's best player and moments later he forced a world class save out of Pricey and then was denied by the cross bar.

Rob limped off and on came Dazzer Jones who proved to be more than an able deputy.

These scares prompted us to lift our game and we were able to restore our two goal cushion courtesy of Broady who had beaten the offside trap to beat Badwick from close range

Owen and Hughesey both had glorious chances to make the tie safe but in the end, we had to be content with the 3-1 victory. Happy Chappy of a Webmaster ? – bloody right I am.

MOM Sooty was a tower of strength. Great in the air and he didn't miss a header all day, his distribution was first class and what a goal !

TWA Tea award went to Hughesy for his fancy fanny work in the corner which went wrong.

Team: 1. Mike Price(8) 2. Robbie Jones (8) 3. Steve Halliwell (8) 4. Luke Peate(8) 5. Graham Sutcliffel (9) 6. Hugh Jones(8) 7. Matt Davies (8) 8. Richard Carr (8) 9. Chris Broadhurst (8) 10. Paul Jones (8) 11. Gaz Pugh-Jones(8) SUBS: 12. Chris Hughes(7) 14. Owen Roberts (8) 15.Darren Jones (7)