Our U18 side produced a brilliant performance in the second round of the FAW Youth Cup, beating Risca United 4-0 at Ty Isaf Park.
Goals from Owen Taylor, Owura Edwards, Tom Hillman and Josh Williams lead the Young Exiles to a thrilling victory.
Almost instantly, County found themselves ahead after Risca conceded an early free-kick 25 yards from goal. With less than two-minutes on the clock, Owen Taylor stepped up to take the set-piece and with some help from a deflection, he saw his powerful shot end up in the back of the net.
Owura Edwards could’ve doubled the away side’s lead just four minutes later when he finished well after find himself through on goal but his effort was ruled offside.
The Cuckoo’s then went searching for an equalizer, and in the 10th minute Tom Savigar had to make a brilliant intervention to clear the ball off the line.
After a brief scare, Byron Anthony’s side re-took control of the game with Liam Bishop making a brilliant run into the box, finding himself one-on-one with ‘keeper Brooklyn Lloyd-Meek. The forward tried to strike the ball into the bottom corner, but a brilliant save from Lloyd-Meek prevented him from doubling the lead.
The home side again bounced back and had a dominant period in the next five minutes, but they couldn’t capitalize on it, with Lucas Murray winning everything in the air for County.
The Young Exiles kept pushing for a second goal, with Joe Hunt almost scoring a fantastic goal from 30 yards-out on his left foot. His curling shot narrowly went over the crossbar though in the 45th minute, just before the referee called an end to the first-half.
One change was made at half-time, with Josh Williams coming on for Liam Bishop.
Yet again, a brilliant start from Byron Anthony’s side resulted in a goal. Tom Hillman caused the Risca United defenders several problems, before Owen Taylor picked the ball up and released Owura Edwards one-on-one with Lloyd-Meek. The winger stayed onside this time and made no mistake in doubling the lead, calmly finishing into the top corner in the 49th minute.
Byron Anthony made his second change in the 61st minute, bringing on Liam Warman for Owura Edwards. Two minutes later, Lucas Murray went close with a brilliant header after a corner, but he couldn’t direct it on target.
Michael Cook would then have the ball in the net a minute later for the Young Exiles, unfortunately he was adjudged to be offside by the linesman.
In the 66th minute, County’s dominance was rewarded with a third goal; Tom Hillman picked the ball up and produced some outstanding footwork, beating three players before scoring from a brilliant goal from a tricky angle inside the box.
Josh Williams would then get the fourth goal, displaying stunning technique to produce a brilliant volley from just inside the box, smashing it into the bottom-left of the goal in the 70th minute.
Tom Hillman was then brought off for Sioni Benham in the 79th minute as Byron Anthony made his third and final change of the game.
County almost had a fifth goal, after Joe Hunt saw a brilliant free-kick beat Lloyd-Meek, but not the crossbar in the 82nd minute.
One final chance followed, Sioni Benham found himself with some space on the left and curled a shot towards the goal – unfortunately he couldn’t quite get the fifth goal in the 90th minute after his shot went over the crossbar.
The referee then called an end to proceedings with the Young Exiles picking up their second consecutive win in a thrilling game at Ty Isaf Park.
They will now go through to the third round of the FAW Youth Cup.
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Starting XI: Webb, Jay Williams, Hunt, Savigar, Murray, Foulston (c), Edwards (Liam Warman 61’), Taylor, Bishop (Josh Williams 45’), Hillman (Sioni Benham 79’), Cook.
Subs Not Used: Callum Beckett, Sam Roberts.
Players Booked: Michael Cook, Owura Edwards, Owen Taylor.