Llandudno 0 Newtown 2
Carmarthen Town 1 Aberystwyth Town 3
Mid-Wales rivals Newtown and Newtown will face each other in the semi-final of the JD Welsh Cup after progressing through to the last four on Tuesday night.
A goal either side of half-time secured Newtown a 2-0 win at Llandudno whilst Aberystwyth advance after they fended off another late attempted late comeback from Carmarthen Town.
There was early drama at the Giant Hospitality Stadium as Newtown’s Alex Fletcher was denied from the penalty spot by deputising Llandudno stopper Patrick Rutter. The Robins then broke the deadlock on 21 minutes as Neil Mitchell won a duel with Rutter to head the visitors in-front, despite protests from the Llandudno players who felt their goalkeeper was fouled in the process.
Newtown thought they had doubled their lead in the second half but Kieran Mills-Evans’ header was adjudged to have not cross the line by referee Nick Pratt.
Llandudno’s night soured when Patrick Rutter then received a straight red in the closing stages after a ruthless collision with Nick Rushton that forced substitute player/manager Iwan Williams to don the gloves with no backup goalkeeper named on the Seasiders’ bench.
A last-ditch final attack saw Williams head up-field as Llandudno attempted to capitalise from a corner but after the ball sprung lose, Rushton was able to break free and carry the ball the length of the field and fire into the empty net.
There was also drama at Richmond Park where Carmarthen attempted a repeat of their recent thrilling 3-3 league encounter with Aberystwyth.
On that occasion the Old Gold scored twice in added time to salvage an unlikely draw, but Neil Smothers’ side were unable to repeat the feat this time around.
Aberystwyth took a 22nd minute lead when Joe Phillips got himself on the receiving end of Ashley Young’s corner.
Their lead was doubled midway through the second period and would trigger a flurry of goals when striker Jon Owen turned and fired a low shoot across goal to extend Aber’s advantage.
Within two minutes the visitors had struck again; this time Owen and Phillips combining to set up Malcolm Melvin to apply the finish for a third goal.
A third goal in a six minute spell followed as Carmarthen’s Liam Thomas poked the ball home from close range to reduce the deficit to 3-1, leaving plenty of time for the hosts to attempt another late comeback.
Carmarthen momentarily thought that the comeback was well and truly on after they converted again in the 84th-minute, but when winger Dwayne Coultress was deemed to have been offside, their hopes of another dramatic finale were ended.
