Llandudno Junction FC - 1

LLANDUDNO Junction's trophy bid hit the buffers as Abergavenny Town spectacularly steamed into the railway men and knocked them off track with a memorable 4-1 victory to thunder into the semi-finals of the FAW Cup.

In a fierce tussle at the Flyover, Town stunned their Lock Stock Welsh Alliance League hosts and silenced any disbelievers when they took the lead in the first minute.

Dean Morgan set off on a run down the right wing and his cross to the far post had Junction keeper Gwydion Owen in deep trouble, but it still took a prodigious leap from Dan Jenkins to head home.

Town continued to pile on the pressure, and it was against the run of play when Junction equalised through Jamie James.

Town fought back – an Aaron Norman thunderbolt struck the post, Jenkins was unlucky when he headed the rebound onto the crossbar, and Dean Morgan saw Owen smother his shot as he burst into the box.

At the other end the Town defence was holding firm, although central defender Jamie Summers started to suffer the recurrence of an old injury.

At half time he was replaced by Dan Barnard who was swiftly in action as Junction, who looked sharp if not threatening in the first half, stepped up their game, and there were some anxious looks on the faces of Town's travelling support.

However, frowns turned to smiles after 68 minutes when a pin point Jamie Laurent corner was met by the late run of Craig Norman, and Town's tower made no mistake as his header powered past Owen.

Still junction threatened, but their endeavour was undone when Owen and defender Jamie Jones got into a muddle on the edge of their box, presenting Dan Jenkins with an open goal, and he duly doubled his tally with five minutes remaining.

The icing on the cake came two minutes later when Craig Norman sliced through the defence and slammed the ball past Owen to give the score-line a convincing look, although the victory was hard fought, with Town's defence outstanding as they kept Junction, who lie in second place in the top division of the Welsh Alliance, at bay.

With both other South Wales clubs losing their ties, Town are the only South Wales representative's left in the competition. In the draw held at FAW headquarters in Cardiff on Monday, Town were drawn against the team widely regarded as the competition's favourites, Holywell Town FC. The semi- final will take place at a neutral venue, which has yet to be decided, on March 21.

In the meantime there is Friday night football at Pen-y-Pound as the Town return to league action and entertain Abertillery Bluebirds this Friday with a 7.30pm kick off.

A club spokesman told the Chronicle, "We are hoping for a large attendance on Friday night, both to welcome the team back home after their heroics at Llandudno, and to see the Town close in on the league championship, with one hand already on the title. As there is no other local football on a Friday night, it's the ideal opportunity for local footballers to come along and see what is happening at Pen-y-Pound this season."