JD Welsh Cup 1st Round

Cwmamman United 2 Taffs Well 1

CWMAMMAN progressed into the second round of the Welsh Cup with a hard fought game against Welsh League Division One side, Taffs Well.

The game was an excellent advert for Welsh League football, played in an excellent spirit with exciting excellent football being played by both teams.

The visitors dominated possession during the first 15 minutes, but the Cwmamman defence dealt with all the crosses that came in to the penalty area.

Cwmamman then started to up the tempo and created a couple of half chances of their own.

Taffs Well then attacked down the hosts left and beat the off side trap, only for the visitor’s centre forward to blast the ball over the bar from 5 yards.

This was an unbelievable miss – especially when 5 minutes later Cwmamman took the lead after a neat one two by Cory Saunders and Steven Hughes, with the latter firing home low and hard.

Five minutes later Liam Soroka was put through on goal by David Brown and was clearly hacked down from behind but neither the referee, nor the assistant who was ideally placed, waved play on much to the surprise of everyone.

Then ten five minutes later, Taffs Well equalised with Tom Mcarthy firing a thirty yard shot into the top corner which left Mark Snell with no chance whatsoever.

The second half began with the same tempo with both sides looking dangerous but both defences looked solid, especially with the home defence of brothers Josh and Jack Medwin. However, United's Nathan McNeil and Jordan Lloyd Evans were also determined to keep the Well men out.

Cwmamman then scored the eventual winner when winger Liam Soroka ran 35 yards into the penalty and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.

On 75 minutes, Cory Saunders’s thunderous half volley shot was well saved by the visiting keeper, but with more composure, Saunders follow up shot was blasted over the bar instead of killing the game off.

On 80 minutes Mark Snell pulled off an amazing save from a point blank header from five yards as he scooped the ball over the cross bar from a corner.

With Taffs Well throwing everything they could at Cwmamman, the hosts keeper Snell saved brilliantly again.

The hosts had several opportunities to score a third but were pleased to hear the final whistle for a historical win. Next week Cwmamman return to league action against Chepstow Town.

Kick-off is 2.30pm at Grenig Park.