Welsh Cup

Ammanford 3 Trostre 2

Trostre AFC will be ruing their poor discipline, as their 10 men conceded a two goal lead against Ammanford AFC, eventually succumbing to a 3-2 defeat after extra time in the Welsh Cup at the Recreational Ground, writes Nick Davies.

Despite finding themselves 2-0 down, Ammanford scored with half an hour remaining and forced extra time with a late equaliser. They got their winner from the penalty spot, with Ashley Richards slotting home after 93 minutes.

The game had started with neither side taking a strangle hold on the game, but it was Trostre who scored the opener. Euros Griffiths slipped whilst on the ball, and Trostre’s attackers were on hand to take advantage, rounding James Kirkwood to make it 1-0 with 22 minutes on the clock.

However, only seven minutes later, a late and reckless challenge from the opposition saw the visitors reduced to ten. The hosts tried to capitalise, but the opposition kept them at bay. Alec Squires saw his curling effort fly past the post and soon after Griffiths almost made amends for his earlier mistake, but his shot was cleared off the line. The closest Ammanford came to an equaliser in the first half was on 42 minutes; Squires saw his shot ricochet off the bar and Mikey Morris could only find the keeper from the rebound.

After the interval, the home side looked a threat going forward and Richards could’ve drawn the game level, but he sent his header over the bar. Trostre made them pay, as on 48 minutes a long throw met the head of one of their attackers who nodded home to double their lead. Ammanford upped the tempo, and on 61 minutes, Luke Squires sent in a teasing delivery, which fell at the feet of Morris who reduced the deficit to one.

The hosts piled forward at every opportunity, but substitutes Brett Enoch and Luke Fayres couldn’t help find the crucial goal to bring them level. Enoch had his attempt blocked, before Alec Squires fired over. With the clock ticking down, the opportunity to equalise seemed to have slipped from Ammanford’s grasp, however, in the dying embers of the game, the provider turned goalscorer, as Luke Squires smashed home the equaliser.

Two minutes into the extra period, Fayres was brought down in the box and Ammanford were ahead for the first time in the game, via Richards who converted from the spot. Lloyd Davies, making his competitive debut, threatened on the left with a bombarding run and Fayres produced an ambitious scissor kick shot in the area, but neither side really threatened after Ammanford went ahead.

Aaron Butler also came on for his competitive debut late on, as Ammanford hung on for the win.