Penydarren BGC march on towards glory – and there is no sign of their charge slowing down.
The club from Merthyr Tydfil have won 23 matches out of 23 in league and cup this season and are still in the hunt for four trophies.
Pen’s latest success was a 2-1 win against Welsh League club Pontypridd Town away and that has earned them a place in the JD Sports Welsh Cup last eight.
They join The New Saints, Carmarthen Town, Aberystwyth Town, Connah’s Quay Nomads, Newtown and Bangor City in the quarter-finals, while Llandudno and Ruthin Town are playing this evening.
Hundreds of spectators were at the University of South Wales Sports Campus for the fourth round match and there were wild celebrations among fans and players when Penydarren came out on top.\
Defeat was desperately frustrating for hosts Pontypridd.
“It was another massive performance,” said manager Kerry Mullin. “The boys worked hard in poor conditions and we had to make three substitutions because players were going down with cramp.
“What a win! Surely it’s not possible for Penydarren to be in the last eight of the Welsh Cup alongside TNS, Bangor City and others. We entered this competition for the first time to gain experience and after we won against Cardiff Corinthians and earned £500 prize money we thought that was it.
“But here we are. I’m proud of every player.
“We still have a 100 per cent record – 23 out of 23 – and that’s outstanding. We’ve had potential for a few years now, but it hasn’t quite clicked until now.”
Penydarren are favourites for the South Wales Alliance title and promotion to the Welsh League, while they are still in the Welsh Cup, FAW Trophy and John Owen League Cup.
“The League is our priority, no question,” says Mullin. “That sounds a little daft when we are this far into the Welsh Cup, but everything is in place for our club to play Welsh League football.
“That is our mission. That is number one.”
Penydarren have a young team full of fire and passion. They have pace, work hard off the ball and earned their win.
Chris Owens, who scored a hat-trick in the last round when Penydarren won at Llandudno Junction, score both goals.
The first came after 10 minutes when Luke Gullick bemused defenders inside the penalty area and forced the ball into the middle. Owens was able to divert his shot low into the net from close range off a post.
Ponty hit back with a James Hill goal after 14 minutes, but this was Penydarren’s day.
They missed several glorious chances before and after Owen’s fired the winning goal when he volleyed home from a cross.
Pontypridd are an extremely good team
David Burnett, Jack Wheeler, Zac Iheanacho, Rhys McCarthy, Scott Hillman, Nyran Bird, Andy Smith, Aiden Lewis, Gavin Beddard, Luke Gullick, James Hill. Subs: Danny Hooper, Jamal Easter, Matthew Hibbs, Adam Johns, Ellis Bellamy.
Penydarren BGC: Jonathan Green, Scott Pike, Sam Gamble, Alex Lloyd, Ben Gibbons, Adam Lewis, Kyle Sullivan, Asa Lloyd, Ben Jones, Nathan Williams, Chris Owens. Subs: Jamie Howells, Conner Kinsey, Harri Moyle, Josh Brogden, Connor Keating.
JD Welsh Cup fourth round results: Caernarfon Town 1, The New Saints 3; Pontypridd Town 1, Penydarren Boys and Girls Club FC 2; Airbus Broughton 1, Carmarthen Town 4; Cardiff Metropolitan 0, Aberystwyth Town 1; Connah’s Quay Nomads 3, Porthmadog 1; Flint Town United 2, Newtown 2 (Newtown won 4-3 on penalties after extra time); Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant 2, Bangor City 3.
Saturday, January 27: Llandudno v Ruthin Town (5.15pm, live on S4C).
