Report by Jonny Sutton
A GLORIOUSLY sunny day at Richmond Park, Carmarthen saw Merlins Bridge play off against Rhos in the West Wales Youth Plate
Having finished 3rd and 4th in their league campaigns, both teams supporters turned out in anticipation of a keenly contested match.
The pre match billing was accurate and the crowd were treated to an action packed match full of high quality football from both an attacking and defending viewpoint.
A cagey 1st 45 minutes ended nil nil with Rhos in control of the possession whilst Bridge probably had the best chance of the half.
Pacey winger Tom Mezzetta put, the usually lethal Striker, Fletcher Picton through 1 on 1. Picton never quite had complete control of the ball and although he got a shot away, the Rhos keeper pulled off a fine save.
At the other end the Bridge defence, consisting of full backs Tyler Sutton, Rhys Corney and Centre Halves Callum O’Riordan, Josh Silk and Henry Thomas, kept the Rhos attack at arms length.
Nil-nil at half time but on the hour the game swung in Rhos’ favour. A free kick on the left was swung into the box where the Rhos Centre Half Harvey Ranford headed the ball back across goal for Jacob Humphreys to power a close rang header home despite Bridge appeals for offside.
This was the moment that the Bridge youngsters would sink or swim, with tiring legs and bodies and up against a side who now had their heads up.
For the next 5 minutes it looked like Rhos would pinch a second as their confidence grew but then a 2nd wind came.
Bridge got classy midfielder Leon Davies on the ball more through the hard working trio behind him – Iwan Davies, George Morris and Skipper Harrison Goddard. With Davies starting to pull the strings half chances started to be created.
With 15 minutes to go a break from wingman Tomos Gwillam was stopped with a foul. From the resulting free kick, a wicked dipping ball into the box, was knocked home by the unfortunate Cole Shingler for an own goal. Bridge didn’t care who scored, they were level and chasing a winner.
With their heads up and attacking they almost snatched it near the death through Callum Rees but his left footed effort lacked the pace to beat the keeper.
The final few minutes of normal time saw Bridge defend a number of dangerous set pieces but they held out to take the game to extra time
As extra time started, both sets of fans finger nails were down to the bone as the game was swinging back and forth.
The energy levels by now had dropped and Bridge were finding space for their full backs to push into, left back Sutton started to get more of the ball and was constantly used as an outlet for Bridge to get forward.
Late in the second period of extra time another Rhos ball into the box was cleared off the line from Corney with the keeper stranded.
With the full time whistle going, players all over the pitch collapsed knowing they’d given everything and the lottery of penalties was going to decide the tie.
Rhos were now favourites having won a shootout to progress in the previous round whereas Bridge had lost their previous shootout earlier in the season in the West Wales Cup Semi Final
The first 10 penalties were all tucked away with the Bridge scorers Josh Silk, Henry Thomas, Tomos Gwillam, Iwan Davies and Fletcher Picton.
With the pressure ramping up and sudden death kicking in, Bridge flinched first with George Morris having his penalty saved by the Rhos Keeper.
This was the moment for Griffiths to step up and become the hero. Firstly saving the Rhos penalty to ensure another round of penalties and then, after Rhys Corney tucked his away, he repeated the feat again, saving low down to his left hand side and sending his team into ecstatic celebrations
For the team and coach Kevin Thomas it was a great way to end the season and bow out of Junior Football.
TEAM: Niall Griffiths, Tyler Sutton, Callum O’Riordan, Josh Silk, Rhys Corney, Henry Thomas, George Morris, Harrison Goddard, Callum Rees, Fletcher Picton, Tom Mezzetta. Subs: Leon Davies, Iwan Davies, Daniel Aghamelu, Iwan “Iwy” Davies, Tomos Gwillam.
