LLANRHAEADR 4
HENLLAN 1
LAST year’s runners-up Llanrhaeadr remain in the mix to go one step better in this season’s Shield.
They had to come from behind to eventually see off a determined Henllan challenge at Llannefydd, but four second half goals did the trick to ensure a home meeting with double-chasing Llandyrnog in Tuesday’s semi-final.
Llanrhaeadr’s Bryn Evans admitted: “It wasn’t a 4-1 scoreline - it was closer than that.”
“We were probably running on empty in the second half,” said Henllan player-manager Chris Brown.
The first half proved to be a tight and tense affair, with just a single Huw Jones goal for Henllan separating the teams at the interval.
Chances were scarce for the rest of the half, although Llan number one Kevin Evans did pull off one good save.
Brown added: “We always needed that second goal, no doubt about that.”
The introduction of Rhys Llwyd perked Llanrhaeadr up for the second half and they soon managed to level the tie through youngster Osian Davies.
It was Llwyd who then rifled his side into the lead.
Henllan did have opportunities to level things up, but the vital fourth goal of the night went to Llanrhaeadr as Gethin Lloyd scored.
Ian Evans bagged his 23rd goal of the season when he fired the ball into the top corner from all of 30 yards.
“I think we deserved it,” added Bryn Evans.
With Henllan, Llanrhaeadr, Rhewl, Cefn and Llandyrnog all in the top-half of the draw, Brown describes it as “the side of death”!
“Whoever gets through this side of the draw deserves to be there (in the final), no shadow of doubt,” he added.