CORWEN 0

BRICKFIELD RANGERS 1

A KNOCKOUT blow was dealt to Corwen over the weekend.

The top-two in the league met at War Memorial Park in the quarter-finals of the Wrexham Area League Premier Division Cup.

In the end, it was title favourites Brickfield Rangers who booked a last-four meeting with Buckley Town courtesy of their slender 1-0 triumph.

The ground staff at the club need special praise for their hard work clearing the snow off the pitch to ensure the tie could go ahead.

Prior to kick-off, a minute’s silence was observed in memory Peter Aldridge and club president Tudor Jones.

Corwen manager Danny Jellicoe handed a first start in senior football to 16-year-old Kian Harrison, who had come off the bench in the previous two fixtures.

Harrison got into the thick of the action early on, taking a throw in and finding the feet of Ryan Billington.

He played the ball to Scott Evans, whose shot from distance zipped just wide of the post.

The first save of the match came when the ball was played to Corwen’s Tommy Mutton in a crowded penalty box.

Mutton didn’t manage to get everything behind the shot, which allowed keeper Josh Aitken to save.

At the other end, Ross Ankers ran unchallenged at the Corwen box and he sent his shot from the edge of the area wide of the target.

Corwen threatened again in the 13th minute with Joe Williams unable to pick out a colleague with a dangerous ball into the box.

Scott Evans' free kick after half-an-hour was off target for the hosts, before Rangers were presented with a terrific opportunity to take the lead on 36 minutes.

A Brickfield player appeared to trip himself up under pressure, but the Corwen players were dismayed to see the referee pointing to the spot.

Joe Sullivan sent keeper Nathan Aldridge the wrong way from the spot kick to give Rangers the lead.

More drama arrived three minutes later, when Brickfield keeper Josh Aitken fouled Tommy Mutton just outside the penalty area.

Aitken was booked for his offence, with many Corwen players believing a red card should have been brandished for denying a goal-scoring opportunity.

Mutton's ensuing free kick was curled into the danger zone and it narrowly missed the head of red-shirted player.

Brickfield looked to double their advantage three minutes before the break, but Nathan Aldridge produced a great save to deny Sam Molyneux.

Corwen had a couple of opportunities to level things up after the break.

Aitken collected Joe Williams' header and the Brickfield keeper was a relieved man when he spilled a header from Scott Evans' corner, with the ball being cleared off the line.

Another Evans corner caused further chaos a minute later and Joe Williams shot just wide of the goal from close range.

A red card was shown to former Corwen player Nathan Davies after a foul on Ioz Jones.

The referee mistakenly thought he had previously booked Davies when he produced a yellow card, but the sending off was quickly rescinded following the spot of mistaken identity.

Corwen continued to press for a leveller, with Andrew Roberts and Tommy Mutton both having glimpses of goal.

The final whistle brought an end to a frustrating game for Corwen.

They were the better side and they dominated possession, territory and chances, but they were unable to find the back of the net against the league leaders.