Welsh Cup – Second Round

Ammanford 5 Sully Sports 2

A Matthew Fisher hat-trick fired Ammanford into the second round of the Welsh Cup as they defeated Sully Sports 5-2 at the Recreational Ground, writes Nick Davies.

With their league future still up in the air, the club put off-field matters to one side to produce a scintillating display of attacking football for the home fans.

The hosts controlled proceedings early on and tested the opposition keeper when Ben Soal latched on to Fisher’s pass, but his shot was tipped wide.

Despite their early pressure, Ammanford fell behind on 14 minutes when Alex Long rounded James Kirkwood before tapping into the gaping net. The away side nearly doubled their lead minutes later, when they fizzed a shot past the post.

The lead didn’t last long though as Fisher split open the defence with his incisive run and rounded the goalkeeper before netting the equaliser.

Ammanford pressed forward in search of a second, but Mikey Morris and Craig Frater fired wide in the opening half.

Kirkwood was brought into action right before the break as he expertly tipped a shot round the post, before wowing the crowd with a superb diving save from a rasping volley which seemed certain to ripple the net.

After the interval, the hosts took the lead when Frater netted on his competitive debut, cutting in from the right wing to fire home. He then blasted over when one on one minutes later.

The lead was doubled when Fisher coolly slotted past the keeper on 64 minutes. Some exquisite play was on view for the home fans as goalscorer turned provider when Fisher set up Alec Squires, who powered home from the edge of the area to make it 4-1.

The visitors immediately replied though, as Andrew Townsend’s cross-come-shot dipped over Kirkwood’s head and into the net from an acute angle.

Late on Fisher completed his hat-trick as he elegantly flicked the ball over the goalie’s head and headed home to bring a conclusion to the attacking master class.