CORWEN 3

CEFN ALBION 5

THERE will be no national knockout glory for Corwen this season.

Their FAW Trophy tilt came to a halt at the quarter-final stage after a home loss at the hands of fellow Wrexham Area League Premier Division outfit Cefn Albion.

The Corwen ground staff worked hard on the War Memorial Park pitch to ensure that the tie could go ahead after a deluge of rain fell in the days leading up to the encounter.

It proved to be a goal-den afternoon and Corwen were celebrating when the deadlock was broken in the sixth minute.

A quick counter-attack ended when Sam Henry crossed it to Dale Davies, who brilliantly hit a first time shot into the back of the net.

The visitors responded with a close range shot from Oliver Davies going narrowly wide of the target.

A couple of half chances were spurned as Corwen looked to extend their advantage.

Just before the half-hour mark, home keeper Dylan Jones pulled off a good save and while attempting to reach the rebound, Harry Pooler fouled Connor Kendrick, leading to a penalty being awarded.

Kendrick sent Jones the wrong way with his spot kick to make it one-apiece.

Things got even worse for Corwen three minutes shy of the break.

Kendrick's shot was handled on the line by defender Kyle Jones, who was sent off.

The spot kick was once more taken by Kendrick and while it was saved by Dylan Jones, the Cefn player knocked in the rebound.

Five minutes after the break and Cefn were awarded a third penalty.

Kendrick was eyeing up his hat-trick, but this time he was denied by Dylan Jones.

The Corwen keeper immediately launched the ball forward and a shot from the edge of the box was just about tipped wide by the Cefn number one.

The game took another twist in the fifty-eighth minute when a rasping shot from the edge of the box by Jordan Jones went into the roof of the net to make it 3-1.

Corwen weren't out of the tie just yet and Scott Evans bundled the ball over the line to pull a goal back.

The next goal was going to be crucial and in the 65th minute, Kendrick found the corner of the net to complete his hat-trick.

Joe Williams had two attempts to drag Corwen back into the contest, but it was game over when Albion grabbed their fifth goal with four minutes remaining.

Youngster Zac Davies exploited space in the Corwen backline to slot the ball past Dylan Jones.

This was not the end of the scoring, though, as a cracking free kick from Sam Henry a minute from the end of normal time gave Corwen their third goal of the afternoon.