Maggs' stunning late winner dumps Bluebirds out of League Cup
PHOTOS:
Ben Fawcett levelled matters - but it was a night to forget for Haverfordwest County
Jake Merry - marked his return to Haverfordwest County with an excellent performance
Delighted former Bluebirds' players now on the management team at Ynysygerwn - David and Paul Burrows
Match officials: Teifion Cook (Referee), Garwyn Davies & Dale Parker
Nathaniel Cars League Cup – quarter final
Ynysygerwn Sports 1 – Haverfordwest County 2
Player manager Nick Maggs struck a stunning late volley producing a shock victory for Ynysygerwn Sports against Haverfordwest County to reach the last four of the League Cup under the floodlights at Llandarcy Sports' Centre of excellence.
It just about summed up The Bluebirds' most inept display for a long time as their opponents stood 39 places below them in the Welsh League set-up and were without five key players at a stag party in Sunderland.
To be fair to Wayne Jones' side they were without some of key players too but they will look back on missed chances, the regular loss of the ball in midfield - with the only bright spots being the debut of Jake Merry and other youngsters like Ben Fawcett, Jack Wilson and Leon Luby alongside a rock-solid performance by skipper Sean Pemberton.
Luke Griffiths gave the Welsh League Division Three Ynysygerwn Sports a one-goal cushion at half time against their Division One opponents. After the break Ben Fawcett equalised, but right at the death it was Maggs who was the Sports’ cup hero as the player/boss struck a superb winner.
Wayne Jones’ Bluebirds must have had at least eighty percent of possession over 90 minutes, but on the night failed miserably to turn their superiority into all important goals, and the visitors hit the woodwork twice on a night where lady luck definitely deserted them.
The Bluebirds pressed hard to open the scoring; and were unlucky when skipper Sean Pemberton headed against the crossbar; whilst Wilson and Fawcett also went close and the latter had strong claims for a penalty turned down.
However, the Sports broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute from almost their first attack when the snatched the ball in midfield and Dan Griffin’s low cross from the left was met by Luke Griffiths, who made no mistake from a tap-in at the far post.
Just before the break Ricky Watts and Jack Wilson combined down the right, and the latter’s cross was met by a peach of a far-post header by Fawcett, but was brilliantly tipped over the bar by the home keeper Simon Cole.
Haverfordwest custodian Kyle Stuart was almost an onlooker at the other end and eventually the visitors levelled matters on 70 minutes, as Tom Dyson’s pinpoint cross from the left was met by Fawcett as he stopped for a far-post header.
Skipper Pemberton struck the crossbar with a fierce rising shot and with extra time looming it seemed as if Haverfordwest's greater fitness levels would see them home in extra time - but again the ball was cleared by Ynysygerwn and another error saw the ball fall to Maggs 25 yards out and The Bluebirds were well and truly dumped out of the competition by rank outsiders!
Haverfordwest County: Kyle Stuart; Leon Luby; Sean Pemberton (Capt); Tim Hicks; Tom Dyson; Jake Merry; Elliot Scotcher; Ben Fawcett; Kaid Mohamed; Jack Wilson. Substitutes: Ashley Bevan; Fraser Finley; Gareth Finnegan.
Ynysygerwn: Simon Cole: Nathan Davies; James Newell; Daniel Nagle (Capt); Aaron Baddiscombe; Craig Evans; Chris Gardiner; Luke Griffiths; Dan Griffin; Sam Balla; Johnny Evans. Substitutes: Kieran Read; Sam Mogford; Nicholas Maggs.