AFAN LIDO 2-1 Connahs quay (welsh Cup 4th round)

Twice in 5 days we've gone to extra time to win a cup match which speaks volumes for the lads on the field. On the basis that Connah's Quay are a Welsh Premier side they were classed as favourites although we all knew that if we could play to out potential we could win this game.
 
We kicked off but didn't make the best of starts, Mark Jones actually set up Connahs Quay only for Jonathan Hood to tidy up at the back and clear. Then Matt Harris lost the ball and Connahs Quay played a through ball which Mike Lewis punched clear from Aaron Burns although we were awarded a free kick for a foul on Mike. We were awarded a series of free kicks but each time we overhit them to find their keeper. On 7 minutes we almost took the lead, Carl Payne played the ball to Mark Jones wide left, he found Scott McCoubrey who played it back in to Mark, he shot from the edge of the area, beat the keeper but it went just over the bar. Several Connahs Quay attacks failed as they were caught offside then on 16 minutes Mike Lewis threw the ball out to Nathan White who won a throw, the ball was played in to Carl Payne and his goal bound shot was blocked by a defender. Nathan then beat a couple of defenders, got into the box but his cross was cut out and went for a corner. The corner was headed out to Matt Harris just outside the box and his shot sailed inches wide. On 20 minutes we should have been ahead, Nathan White in space had only the keeper to beat but he shot against the keeper, the ball rebounded against Nathan and went goalwards. Unfortunately for us it went inches wide. On the half hour Connah's Quay pushed forward but once again Jonathan Hood tidied up at the back and cleared. On 39 minutes Mark Jones shot from 25 yards, he beat the keeper and we all waited for the net to bulge, but sadly for us it was inches wide.  The comments at half time were basically would we pay the price for not taking our chances as Connahs Quay must have more to offer.
 
They came out and attacked but from a good position shot over the bar. We continued to push forward looking for a goal but usually it was the final ball which let us down. The boys at the back, Jonathan Hood, Shaun Galsworthy and Scott Hillman were in the main controlling things when out of the blue they scored. We actually had attacked and Matt Harris played Nathan White in but the ball went out for a goal kick. In a change of tactic they took a short one, we didn't react and they played the ball through for their 14 Sam Mcnutt to score with a left footed shot wide of Mike Lewis in goal (69 minutes). We continued to take the game to Connahs Quay and Nathan White crossed low for Corey Thomas but his shot went just wide. With 4 minutes to go Nathan White was fouled 25 yards out in a central position, Chris Pridham touched it to Mark Jones who shot high into the net giving the keeper no chance. In the last minute Connah's Quay had a free kick but Mike Lewis turned it behind for a corner which we cleared. The game ended with the Connahs Quay defence all over the place and Mark Jones having yet another shot blocked.
 
In the first minute of extra time Corey Thomas played it wide to Scott McCoubrey down the left but his cross was just ahead of the incoming strikers. Mark Jones and Nathan White combined well in the box, Nathan went down but nothing was given. 10 minutes into extra time the goal we deserved finally arrived, Carl Payne wide right hit a 40 yard diagonal ball to the feet of Nathan White who shot first time wide of the keeper. We continued to push forward but a Damon Thomas cross went over the bar. Connah's Quay had no option now but to push forward but they were caught offside a couple of times. With two minutes to go Terry McCormick in the Connah's Quay goal gave his side a chance of penalties with an absolutely brilliant save off Nathan White. Mark Jones received the ball in the area and crossed low for Nathan who must have only been 4 yards out, he struck his shot well but the keeper went full length to save. Mark Jones then played the ball to Corey Thomas but his first time shot went over the bar. In the last seconds Mark Jones tried his luck from 25 yards but put his shot wide but we held out to win a trip to Bala.
 
Lido side:
Mike Lewis  Jonathan Hood  Carl Payne  Scott Hillman  Shaun Galsworthy  Matt Harris  Gavin Jones  Chris Pridham  Mark Jones  Nathan White  Scott McCoubrey
 
12 Damon Thomas for Matt Harris 73
14 Robert Cockings for Nathan White 119
16 Corey Thomas for Gavin Jones 73
 
Yellow Cards  Nathan White 83 and Damon Thomas 102
 
Goals Mark Jones 86 and Nathan White 100

Match Report by Peter Reynolds