Welsh Cup and the Cymru Alliance

By Phil Jones Cymru Alliance correspondent

Gareth Caughter helped Holyhead Hotspur through to the next round of the Welsh Cup

Holyhead Hotspur

are the only Cymru Alliance survivors in this year's Welsh Cup competition and they had a comfortable passage against Bridgend based Llangeinor. Spurs seized the initiative straight from the off and Dean Garmey broke the deadlock early after a pinpoint pass from Wales under-19 international Kenleigh Owen who from being provider, doubled his side's tally following a goalmouth scramble. Garmey then doubled his personal tally to give his side a three-goal interval cushion. The hosts were able to make an impression through Darren Jones, but they were on the canvas again when Owen extended the lead and Gareth Caughter (pictured) and Mel McGuiness secured a safe passage into Round 4.

Flint Town can feel rightfully proud of their achievements and going out 1-0 against cup holders Bangor City is certainly no disgrace. The television cameras were also present and captured the fact that Flint had a perfectly good goal disallowed as a close-range effort from Paul Williams most certainly crossed the goal line despite some frantic smothering of the ball by keeper Paul Smith. Flint had the game's first clear-cut chance as well, but Sean Beck was denied by Smith. At the opposite end a move involving Peter Hoy and Marc Limbert ended with Limbert being foiled. It was the same combination that set up the game's only and decisive goal, with Hoy netting a close range header. In a last throw of the dice Flint were denied an equaliser when substitute Simon Thelwell forced Smith into making a miraculous fingertip save.

Coedpoeth had their dreams of making further progress in the competition dashed at Caersws who made light work of ensuring it was their name that went into the hat for the next round. Matt Prosser and Lee Jenkins put them in control, Scott Williams added to their tally and, despite Steve Davies reducing the deficit, Mark Griffiths cemented the win. To sour their big day, Coedpoeth had Dion Jones sent off in the later stages of this tie.

Out go Llangollen Town, they flopped to a 3-1 reversal against Llandudno Junction who were on target through Jamie Hobson, Darrel Jones and Matt Hughes, with Mark Lunt pegging a goal back.

Llandudno Junction opened their tally on the stroke of half time through Jamie Hobson. Llan went chasing the game and went further behind in the 75th minute through Darrel Jones and, granted Mark Lunt provided Llan a lifeline, the visitors sealed the win through Matt Hughes in the dying minutes.

Llandudno were short on luck and they were sunk 2-0 at Pontardawe.

In the Cymru Alliance league,Llangefni Town have gone four points clear at the top of the table after securing a 2-0 verdict at Denbigh Town. They had the best of the early exchanges with Chris Williams, Warren Gibbs and Graham Austin all going close. They finally got the breakthrough they deserved when Danny Glyn Roberts netted at the second attempt after his first shot had been blocked by the keeper. Denbigh responded in fine fashion and a textbook save from Shaun Pearson denied Tommy Mutton from levelling. Just prior to the breakthough, the league leaders doubled their tally when Austin was first to react to get on the end of a perfectly hit Williams free-kick and. although his initial effort was blocked, he made no mistake at the second attempt. Denbigh did prove more of a threat in the second half with Mutton in particular posing much threat, but Llangefni shut up shop to record yet another clean sheet.

Buckley boss Gareth Thomas was first to admit his heart was in his mouth when it appeared his side were in danger of dropping two points at Llanfairpwll after carving out an impressive 2-0 lead. Neil Wynne had had an early effort disallowed, but new kid on the block Colin Quirk made an immense impression. He floated over a free-kick which was turned in by Phil Molyneux and then a pinpoint corner was powered home by Mark Orme. Richard Evans reduced the arrears, but the turning point was a penalty chance for Llanfair which involved both goalkeepers. Their penalty expert is keeper Ben Heald, but on this occasion he was the day's villain as his tame effort was saved by Stuart McIntosh.

LEX XI looked home and dry when they were bossing Penrhyncoch at half time, with lack of discipline costing them dearly as they spent most of the half contesting the vast majority of referee Mr Triggs' decisions. Aaron Davies was set free by Mike Santanjelli and his low cross was converted by Kevin Roberts on the half hour mark. A hotly disputed penalty enabled LEX to extend their lead when the referee adjudged Jack Jones had pushed Josh Shaw. Although Sean Dodd fluffed the resulting spot-kick he made no mistake at the second attempt. Slack marking enabled Richard Evans to reduce the lead with the first attack after the break and then it all went pear-shaped for LEX when they also conceded a penalty which was despatched by Mark Egan. It was not a dirty match, but the visitors had Gari Lewis dismissed after getting a second yellow card for dissent and then a minor skirmish between LEX's Stuart Parry and Chris Wilkins saw the both being dismissed.

Guilsfield went down 3-2 in their own back yard against Ruthin Town whose marksmen were Mike Robinson, Mark Hobson and Kevin Garland, with Ross Frame and Rob Cookson responding with first half strikes.

Berriew were on song, securing a 2-1 victory over Caernarfon Town. Will Thomas had his 21st minute opener immediately cancelled out by Jamie Evans, but Thomas doubled his personal account with 20 minutes left and it proved decisive.

At Alyn Park, Mold Alex were dumped out of the league cup by Bethesda. Just a Richard Owen penalty was the difference between these sides for most of the match so Mold, who were not at their best, threw caution to the wind and Neil Hughes and Jamie Whitmore went on to add late efforts for the visitors.