OVERTON 1
RUTHIN TOWN 2
RAMPANT Ruthin have extended their unbeaten run to eight games, but their NEWFA Challenge Cup progress should have been far easier than their eventual narrow victory over Overton.
Steve Crompton’s side were pegged back after taking a first half lead, but they found a vital winner to book their place in the last-eight.
“It could have been over within 20 minutes,” admitted Crompton.
“We had enough chances to finish the game off.”
Wasteful Ruthin had to wait until the half-hour mark to take the lead, when Jack Crompton got on the end of a good cross to head home.
“I think we took our foot off the gas when we took the lead,” added the Ruthin boss.
Rob Ward equalised, but it was Ruthin’s day courtesy of Jack Crompton’s second headed goal of the afternoon.
Crompton has also expressed his delight after teenage striker Josh Davies was named in the Wales semi-professional U-18s squad for last night's friendly with the Republic of Ireland in Wexford.
“He is probably going to be a big talent in the future,” said Crompton.
Davies is a product of the hugely successful Ruthin Town Youth FC set-up and he started the season playing Welsh Alliance football with his home village Llandyrnog United. He returned to Memorial Park Fields over the autumn and he is now a first team regular with the Cymru Alliance squad.
Club chairman Brian Griffiths said: "We're all delighted for Josh and it's a big boost for the club. This demonstrates what we are trying to do at Ruthin, which is produce good quality local footballers. A great deal of credit must go to Wynne Davies and the youth section but a lot of it is obviously down to the player himself.
“He has done really well since re-joining Ruthin and has been instrumental in the unbeaten run we've been on recently, his selection is well deserved."
Davies is also a member of the Bala Town FC academy system.
Ruthin Town Reserves proved to be too good for bottom-of-the-table Gresford Athletic Reserves, as they eased to a 3-0 success. David Finnie (2) and Jack Williams scored.
Ruthin Colts edged out Llangollen Reserves 2-1.
Wil Bowman and Elgan Hughes were on target, with Jack Maybury responding.