Ruabon stun Penyffordd in Mike Beech Trophy romp, Lex return to Premier peak

MIKE BEECH MEMORIAL TROPHY ROUND ONE
Penyffordd Lions 1 (Hughes 38)
Ruabon Rovers 4 (Swarbrick 50, Bennion 54 & 71, Mazzarella 94)
A fantastic second-half performance from tier 5 Championship Division side Ruabon saw them into the quarter-finals at the expense of Penyffordd from a level higher.

In the last eight, Gareth Edwards’ side will travel to current Mike Beech Trophy holders Connah’s Quay Town.

Ben Hughes’ 38th minute goal was enough for the Premier Division hosts to lead at the break.

However, the second half saw Rovers take command.

Andrew Swarbrick levelled the tie on 50 minutes and Chris Bennion soon made it 2-1 after 54, Conner Kendrick providing both assists.
Bennion’s second on 71 minutes, set up by Mark Jones, ensured Ruabon put one foot firmly into the quarter-finals and Paul Mazzarella’s strike in added time via a Jimmy Jones assist sealed it.

TEAMS

Penyffordd: Mitchell Calton, Mark Roberts, Edward Brown, Nathan Lavender, Sam Evans, Liam Williams (Gareth Higgins 64), Liam Hughes, Harry Brown (Lewis Dallimore 59), Ben Hughes, Marcus Davies (c), Matty Holmes.
Ruabon: Oliver Heard-Edwards, Dan Kebell, Niall Broe, Ryan Williams, Shaun Valentine, Andrew Swarbrick (c – Jimmy Jones 79), Mark Jones (Paul Mazzarella 78), Joe Matthews, Adam Jones, Conner Kendrick (Richard Griffiths 55), Chris Bennion

MIKE BEECH MEMORIAL TROPHY QUARTER-FINAL DRAW
(Ties to be played February 18)
Connah’s Quay Town v Ruabon Rovers
CPD Gronant v Greenfield
Lex XI v FC Queen’s Park
New Brighton Villa v Castell Alun Colts

PREMIER DIVISION
Lex XI 2 Coedpoeth United 0
Lex returned to top spot in the Premier with a home win over Coedpoeth secured by Ethan Simpson goals on 23 and 75 minutes.

Connah’s Quay Town 2 Castell Alun Colts 1
Jake Leonard and Owen Edwards provided the goals that earned Town a narrow victory, Reece Jones keeping Castell Alun in the contest.

Mynydd Isa Spartans 1 Greenfield 6
Nathan Williams bagged a hat-trick as Greenfield roared back to form.
Williams netted on 19, 28 and 70 minutes, while Ryan Pryce Jones scored on 36 and 37 after Connor Hughes had started the ball rolling with the opener on seven.

Samuel Riley pocketed a 40th minute consolation for the hosts.

Caerwys 5 Overton Recreation 2
Caerwys made it 13 unbeaten and remained 10 points clear at the summit after a comfortable success over Overton.

Matthew Gilsenan, Kieron Day, Nathan Swann-Jones, Ryan Davies and Ethan Farren put the hosts five-up before James Parry and Oliver Nelson hit back late on for the visitors.

Acton 11 FC United of Wrexham 1
Hat-tricks from Andrew Bithell, Alistair Gibson (1 pen) and Sam Giles, plus singles from Joe Garner and Lewis Edwards, produced double figures for the hosts, Aaron Scott with scant consolation for the away side.

Aston Park Rangers 3 Holywell United 1
Despite trailing to a first-minute goal from Joe Jones, APR rallied with strikes by Jordan Howell, Harrison Robson and Lewis Jones to win the day.

CPD Bellevue 1 CPD Sychdyn 8
Aaron North was a four-goal star in this emphatic triumph for Sychdyn.

Jack Radford added a hat-trick and Shane Wellings a single, Nathan Rush with a late response for BV.

Johnstown 1 CPD Gronant 4
Gyorgy Szabo, Martin Byast, Aidan Bell and Steven Kirk shared the goals that booked Gronant the points, Dwayne Jones the sole marksman for Johnstown.

Castell Alun Colts Reserves 2 Caerwys Reserves 4
Two early goals from Ruari Wood, one a penalty, put Caerwys in command, but Nathan Jones and Kacper Wojciech brought Alun level by the break.

The visitors clinched the win in the last 20 minutes, Ieuan Rowe and Connor Gorman on the mark.

Connah’s Quay Town Reserves 2 Coedpoeth United Res 1
Goals from Rhys Williams and Mark Davies won it for Town, Tyler Morris keeping Coedy in the hunt.

FC Queen’s Park Reserves 7 Penyffordd Lions Res 0
Leaders the Park continue to rule the roost, Joshua Venables (2), Ryan Lancelotte, Liam Lawrence, Leroy Ngema-Stamp, Ben White and Ashley Ryan splitting the goals.

Greenfield Reserves 1 Lex Reserves 4
Joe Roberts, Bradley Wynne, George Baxter and Charles Baxter bagged one apiece for the winners after the break, Owen Jeffrey’s goal having handed Greenfield a half-time lead.

Llay Welfare 3rds 2 Mynydd Isa Spartans Reserves 2
Joseph Cooper put Llay ahead at the interval, Liam Prytherch and Liam Owens struck on 63 and 66 to edge Spartans ahead, but Benjamin Venables grabbed an equaliser deep into added time to salvage a draw for the hosts.