My thanks to the Ressies’ manager Mark Weiland for a full and detailed (and I do mean ‘detailed’) report of what was clearly a memorable day for those who travelled to Llanfechain for the J Emrys Morgan Cup quarter-final tie on Saturday, 22 February.
Some of the details have been edited to protect the individuals concerned – but not many…
Mark reports that the carefully laid preparations were disrupted by the dietary needs of a leading figure within the club.
“The chairman requested we stop at Harry Tuffins at Churchstoke on the way up for a cup of coffee – and the rest,” said Mark.
“This meant we turned up at Llanfechain an hour-and- a-quarter before kick off, so we we did at least have a lot preparation time!
“In all honesty the pitch was very bobbly and it was very windy so before kick off I was thinking this is going to be tough.
“There was a bit of a slope downhill so we went with the wind and started really well, creating a few half-chances with Alan Stocker having a few openings.
“Our first real opportunity was a break down the right with Spencer Napolitano hitting the post from outside the box.
“It seemed like we had about 80 percent possession in the first half and it paid off when a Shane Griffiths throw into me allowed me to turn my marker and swing in a cross which the wind took and their keeper could only parry against the bar.
“Duane Anning was on hand to nod home the rebound from close range to give us a deserved lead.
“After the goal we dominated the play leading up to half-time but I thought, with the conditions on the downhill and with the wind behind us, we probably needed a second.
“With that, they had a goal kick which I missed the first header and a couple of other Presteigne players also missed the ball allowing it to find its way through to their centre-forward who finished neatly underneath our keeper.
“This had been their first chance and they had scored from it which was a bit frustrating in the run-up to half-time.
“Playing uphill in the second half was always going to be tough, but I thought it suited us a bit more as we could play football.
“Rambo [Anthony Vernalls] played the ball over the top to Ioan Hughes that looked like it was going to run out for a goal kick but Ioan hooked a leg round it and pulled it back to the edge of the box where it was met perfectly by Alan Stocker with a first-time half-volley into the bottom corner – a well taken goal.
“The next 30 minutes was dead even with Jon Price not making any saves but doing well with the ball to kill time.
We then scored a great goal which started with bobby bird who played it up the line to Ioan Hughes whoo made it to the by-line.
“I screamed for the pull back which I think Ioan admitted was a bit over-hit – I scuffed the ball which was going wide, but there was Duane Anning – just where you want your centre forward – to tap in.
“While 3-1 was a nice lead to have, we knew we had a good 15 minutes left to defend against a team which has scored late goals in earlier rounds.
“In the last few minutes they put a few crosses in but nothing major and we got through to full-time.
“Playing away from home is never easy and with a bobbly pitch in windy conditions I thought the lads did really well.
“I still think if Alan stocker didn’t score the goal when he did it might have gone all the way to extra time.
“I’d like to thank the chairman and supporters who came on the bus to support, was very much appreciated – we had a great laugh on the way home with the chairman getting some stick as you can imagine.”