Welsh
Youth Cup Second Round. 29/10/06Rhyl U19's 2-3 Chirk U19's
Chirk AAA took their second academy scalp of the competition with a stunning 3-2 away win over Rhyl. After a 5-0 demolition of Connahs Quay at Chirk in the previous round, the youngsters knew that they would be up against it as they ran out onto Rhyl's lush Belle View ground. Straight from kick off Chirk were on the back foot as the home side passed the ball with ease, spreading the play to either flank as the visitors struggled to find their rhythm. Chirk's keeper Griffiths was called into action on nine minutes diving low to save a low shot off Rhyl captain Adams. Rhyl created another chance three minutes later with Popsys
feeding Matty Luke who skied his shot over the bar with only Griffiths to
beat. Chirk's first chance came on 20 minutes after Humphreys ball found Roberts
whose 20 yard shot was saved by Vickers in goal. It was the turn of Chirk
midfielder Hughes to try his luck on 27 minutes, his long range shot just
flashing wide of the Rhyl post. The home pairing of Adams and Brewerton caused
Chirk problems, with the two of them instrumental in many of their sides
efforts. Chirk took the lead on 35 minutes after Rhyl defender Jones pulled down
Ben Davies inside the area, Chris Hughes stepped up to take the resulting
penalty, firing the ball past Vickers in goal to give his side the lead. Chirk's
lead was only short-lived, as within a minute Rhyl equalised when midfielder
Rushton pounced on a uncharacteristic mistake by Chirk's Jones to smash the ball
into the roof of the net from eight yards out. Rushton almost got his second
five minutes later as the Chirk defence struggled to clear a threat, with his
low shot going the wrong side of the post. 
The second half commenced with
Chirk midfielder Evans, replacing Ellis, and forward Sykes, replacing the
injured Roberts. It took the home side only nine minutes to hit Chirk with a
second goal, with Brewerton carving out a opening for Rushton who lashed the
ball past the outstretched Griffiths. Chirk had a clear penalty decision turned
down on 65 minutes after Rhyl's Jones clearly handled the ball while trying to
snuff out a threat from Humphreys, with the travelling support voicing their
disapproval to the referee. Chirk forward Joe Roberts lost his marker at the
other end of the field and just as he was about to pull the trigger a last ditch
tackle from defender Parry pushed the ball away from him. Chirk were rewarded a
free kick which defender Jones headed over from ten yards out. With the clock
ticking Chirk's play had a sense of desperation about it as they searched for
the equaliser, Rhyl replaced the best player on the field Brewerton with Derby
with the match as good as won. This was a decision which soon came back to haunt
them as Chirk subs Price and Sykes combined well for Skyes to score past the
flapping Vickers from ten yards out in the 90th minute.