GARDEN VILLAGE  6 - 0  AFC LLWYDCOED

Saturday September 16th, 2006
FAW Welsh Cup, Round One

A hat-trick from Rob Shannon, which included a wonderful strike from half-time, helped dump lowly Llwydcoed at the first round stage of this seasons Welsh Cup at a scorching Stafford Common.

Strikes from Steve Devonald, Steven Evans and an own goal also contributed to Garden Village's biggest ever Welsh Cup victory.

The home side handed a first-team debut to former Morriston goalkeeper Dale Hulland as Stuart Lloyd was missing through suspension, the experienced Chris Thomas and Jamie Evans returned to midfield but new signing Derek James was unavailable as his transfer from Garw was completed too late to be included.

Village started brightly with Steven Evans and Ashley Richards forcing saves out of Jonathan Jones, but the young 'keeper couldn't do anything to prevent Garden Village's opener on 14 minutes. Steve Devonald, making only his third appearance in a Village shirt, cut inside from the right to the edge of the area and launched an unstoppable shot beyond the helpless Jones.

Chris Evans had a chance for the visitors on 19 minutes but within a minute of the midfielder's effort the home side were two-up. Devonald again was involved as his high ball into the box, which looked to be collected comfortably by the goalkeeper, found the head of the leaping Rob Shannon and crossed the line to make it 2-0.

It should have been 3-0 just before the half hour mark, Jamie Mansell's long clearance from a Llwydcoed corner reached Rob Shannon, through Jamie Evans, and the striker raced into the penalty area and crossed low across goal to find the unmarked Steve Devonald. You'd have bet a substantial amount on the midfielder to put it away but, from 6-yards, he blazed it over the crossbar.

A third goal did come 9 minutes before the break. Jonathan Jones went to the edge of his area to claim the ball but when he went to pick it up he didn't realise that it was still outside the area. Instead of booting it up field, he hesitated, which gifted Steven Evans the chance to bundle the ball into an empty net from the edge of the box.

Steve Devonald was looking dangerous on that right-hand side all afternoon and on 38 minutes again he cut inside from the wing, beating his man for pace, and shooting from 18-yards but this time he didn't trouble the 'keeper.

Llwydcoed's best player by far on the day was right-winger Alex Rees, and it was his cross 5 minutes before the break which found the head of Ryan Griffiths but the striker couldn't direct his effort towards goal.

The start to the second-half was an extraordinary one. Within 90 seconds of the re-start, Rob Shannon had already claimed his hat-trick! His second of the afternoon came directly from the kick-off, he saw the goalkeeper off his line and had a crack. His effort sailed over the outstretched Jones' head, clipped the underside of the crossbar and into the net to make it 4-0.

His third of the afternoon came a minute later, and was a lot less spectacular than his second effort! Marc Lloyd's corner from the left reached the back post where Shannon was waiting and he comfortaby put the ball into the net.

Garden Village looked to have switched off a little bit for the remainder of the half and that allowed Llwydcoed to come forward a bit more. Alex Rees again proved to be the visitors' biggest threat and on 65 minutes he had one of Llwydcoed's best chances of the afternoon. They were awarded a free-kick 20-yards from goal, Rees stepped-up to take it and drilled it low and hard at the Village goal, stinging the palms of Dale Hulland who did well to prevent the midfielder.

Rees again had the chance to freely progress to the edge of the Village area, and again launched a powerful shot through the defence which went inches wide of Hulland's right-hand post.

Without a goal for almost the entire second period it didn't look as if the home side would be adding to their tally of five, but two minutes from the end a sixth goal was scored but with a little help from the defence. Ashley Richards chased the ball down towards the right corner before crossing low into the area, it struck the leg of defender Luke Davies and bobbled into the net past Jonathan Jones to sum of the poor afternoon of the Welfare Ground outfit.

Village: Dale Hulland; David Evans (Michael Harvey, 55'), Jamie Mansell, David Rimmer; Steve Devonald, Jamie Evans, Chris Thomas (Neil Simon, 55'), Steven Evans (Mark Napieralla, 55'), Marc Lloyd; Ashley Richards, Rob Shannon.

Goals: Steve Devonald (14'), Rob Shannon (20', 46' & 47'), Steven Evans (36'), Luke Davies own goal (88').

Llwydcoed: Jonathan Jones; Ian McCabe (Dean Phillips, 58'), Austin Nellor, Luke Davies, James Docherty, James Gricapizi, Alex Rees, Paul Price, Matthew Phillips, Ryan Griffiths, Chris Evans (Liam Davies, 86').

Welsh Cup First Round results (south):

AFC Porth 2 - 4 West End (AET)
Afan Lido 3 - 1 Penrhiwceiber Rangers
Ammanford 4 - 1 Pontyclun (AET)
Barry Town 3 - 2 Croesyceiliog (AET)
Bridgend Town 2 - 0 Taffs Well
Briton Ferry 0 - 1 Bettws
Caerleon 2 - 1 Garw Athletic
Caldicot Town 0 - 1 Cwmbran Celtic
Cambrian & Clydach 1 - 3 Morriston Town
Cardiff Corries 3 - 1 Maesteg Park
Dinas Powys 1 - 0 Bryntirion Athletic
ENTO Aberaman 1 - 2 Neath Athletic
Garden Village 6 - 0 AFC Llwydcoed
Goytre FC 0 - 0 UWIC (AET) *UWIC won 4-2 on penalties
Llantwit Fardre 0 - 1 Newport YMCA
Llanwern 7 - 0 Aberbargoed Buds
Pentwyn Dynamo 3 - 4 Careau (Ely)
Pontardawe Town 4 - 1 Porthcawl Town
Pontypridd Town 4 - 0 Treharris Athletic
Ton Pentre 1 - 0 Merthyr Saints
Tredegar Town 0 - 1 Llangeinor
Troedyrhiw 1 - 2 Ely Rangers (AET)