LLANDYRNOG 2

NANTGLYN 1

HAS their ever been a younger scorer to grab a decisive goal in a Shield final?

The Friday night hero for Llandyrnog was 15-year-old Guto Owen, who came off the bench to seal the Cae Nant side's 19th Tony Evans and Alan Bridson Memorial Shield success.

 

Ethan Plumb and skipper Russ Moorcroft lift the Shield for Llandyrnog.

 

Llandyrnog's first Shield since 2013 was secured when Owen headed into the net with three minutes remaining.

That goal settled a hard-fought final, which could have gone either way.

In front of a large crowd at Rhewl, Llandyrnog edged the first half, but they failed to bag a goal.

The closest they came to scoring was when a deep cross was headed against the post by Pat Hinchcliffe.

At the other end, Geraint Jones tried his luck with an ambitious volley that went wide, while a double save from Daniel Jones denied Nantglyn shortly before the break.

The light blues also threatened at the beginning of the second half when a dangerous free kick eluded everyone in the box.

The deadlock was broken in the 57th minute and it was Llandyrnog who were celebrating.

 

Craig Jones fires Llandyrnog into the lead.

 

Josh Jones burst into the box and when he laid the ball off, Tom Hughes' effort was blocked.

The ball came out to Craig Jones, whose powerful effort was deflected into the roof of the net.

Nantglyn responded in determined fashion, but they were thwarted in the main by the brilliant defensive partnership of Chris Williams and man of the match Russ Moorcroft.

However, Gruff Roberts gradually gained more time and space down the left hand side and he was the catalyst for Nantglyn's 79th minute equaliser.

 

Lewys Jones chips in Nantglyn's equaliser.

 

The ball went back to Roberts after his initial cross was blocked and he centred for Lewys Jones to cleverly lift his chip into the top corner of the net.

At this stage, the likely winners were Nantglyn and they pressed forward searching for a further goal.

Only a terrific challenge from Chris Williams denied the marauding Gruff Roberts a clear run through on goal as time ticked away.

However, the next goal would go to Llandyrnog in the 87th minute.

 

Guto Owen heads in Llandyrnog's late winner.

 

Nantglyn failed to clear a corner and when the ball was lifted back into the box, Guto Owen was left unmarked to head in a decisive goal.