Almost two months to the day since Ammanford defeated Trefelin via a penalty shootout in the Nathanial MG Cup, history repeated itself at Ynys Park as Ammanford secured passage through to the third round of the JD Welsh Cup via a shootout against the Reds after a 2-2 draw over 90 minutes.
Gruff Harrison’s men had trailed twice on the night but took the game to spot kicks thanks to an Ellis Williams header and a penalty from Mark Jones. After Ammanford dispatched all their penalties, Jack Lansdown saved well in sudden death to ensure it was Ammanford’s name in the next round of the draw.
Ammanford suffered a disappointing first half on a cold but clear evening in the Afan Valley. After the withdrawal in the early moments of the game of Matthew Fisher following injury, things got worse for the visitors as Trefelin took the lead half way through the opening period. The ball bobbled kindly to Jack Bevan on the edge of the area and the 19 year old tucked the ball home neatly.
The Reds nearly doubled their lead on the half hour mark when Jordan Davies curled an effort towards goal. Only a fingertip save from Lansdown kept the deficit to just one.
Although Trefelin continued to press in the opening moments of the second half and went close through Damon Thomas and Dylan Perkins, Ammanford looked a different side and were much less wasteful with possession.
Just after the hour, they broke down the managerless home side’s resistance. A Morgan Clarke freekick was glanced on by Williams inside the area to level the scores.
Trefelin went back in front ten minutes later when referee Dale Randall gave a hotly contested spot-kick after a challenge by Williams. Roan Piper dispatched the penalty to the keeper’s left to restore the lead.
With ten minutes to go, Ammanford were offered a route back into the game and in a similar manner to Trefelin’s second go-ahead goal, it came via a keenly argued penalty decision. Mark Jones made no mistake from the spot, sending the keeper the wrong way to set up an exciting finish.
Both teams had glorious opportunities to wrap up progression within the 90 minutes. Callum Thomas headed inches wide inside the 6-yard box before Bevan’s effort landed inches over the bar and Lansdown produced a wonderful point blank stop deep into stoppage time to send the game to penalties.
Both sides dispatched their first sets of efforts from the spot superbly to send ramp up the pressure in the shootout. Substitute Adam John scored with Town’s first effort in sudden death. Lansdown then produced a great save down to his left to secure the victory for the Black and Whites to ensure Ammanford’s progression into the third round of the JD Welsh Cup.
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Bron ddwy fis i’r dyddiad ers i Rhydaman guro Trefelin o giciau o’r smotyn i sicrhau buddugoliaeth yn y Cwpan Nathaniel MG, wnaeth hanes ailadrodd ar nos Wener wrth i Rhydaman ennill gem gyffrous o 12-lath ar ôl y gem orffen yn gyfartal ar ôl 90 munud.
Aeth dynion Gruff Harrison ar ei ôl hi ddwywaith ar y noson ond wnaeth peniad Ellis Williams a cic o’r smotyn Mark Jones sicirhau bod rhaid i’r gêm gael ei setlo o’r smotyn am yr ail rownd yn olynol.
Roedd perfformiad Rhydaman yn siomedig yn y hanner cyntaf ac wnaeth pethau fynd o ddrwg i waeth wrth iddyn nhw golli Matthew Fisher trwy anaf yn gynnar. Hanner ffordd trwy’r hanner cyntaf, aeth y Felin ar y blaen wrth i’r bel glanio yn garedig i Jack Bevan a wnaeth o ddim camgymeriad o flaen y gôl.
Wnaeth y tîm cartref bron a ddwbli ei mantes ond i fys cadarn o Jack Lansdown gywiro’r bel dros y bar o’r tu allan i’r cwrt.
Er i’r gwrthwynebwyr ddechrau’r ail hanner yn dda, roedd Rhydaman wedi deffro o’r diwedd ac roedden nhw’n cadw’r bêl llawer gwell ac roedd y gêm yn gyfartal ychydig ar ôl yr awr.
Chwipiodd Morgan Clarke gic rhydd mewn i’r cwrt ac cododd Ellis Williams uchaf i benio’r bel i gefn y rhwyd.
Aeth Trefelin nôl ar y blaen deg munud ar ôl hyn trwy gic o’r smotyn cyntaf y noswaith. Aeth yr ymysodwr i lawr yn y cwrt o sialens o Williams. Saethodd Roan Piper y bêl i’r chwith o Lansdown i adfer mantes y tîm cartref.
Gyda deg munud i fynd, rhoddodd Dale Randall siawns i Rhydaman ddod yn ôl mewn i’r gêm wrth iddo bwyntio at y smotyn ar ôl tacl ar Callum Thomas. Anfonodd Mark Jones y golgeidwad y ffordd anghywir i lefeli’r sgor.
Tua diwedd y gêm, aeth y ddau dîm yn agos i ennill y gêm. Pêniodd Thomas modfeddi heibio’r postyn cyn i Bevan godi’r bêl dros y bar ac i wneud Lansdown arbed yn gampus o agos.
Gyda’r gêm yn orffen yn gyfartal, aeth y gêm yn syth i giciau o’r smotyn. Gyda’r ddau dîm yn sgorio ei pump ymdrech gyntaf, aeth y gêm i farwolaeth sydyn. Pwerodd Adam John ei gig i gornel y rhwyd cyn i Lansdown arbed i’w chwith i sicrhau buddugoliaeth i Rhydaman a lle yn rownd nesaf y Cwpan.
