Untitled

Round	NEWFA Challenge Cup	Sunday Challenge Cup	Horace Wynne Cup	Under 19's Cup	Under 16's Cup	Under 14's Cup	Under 13's Tesco Cup	Under 12's Cup
Preliminary	7th November	-	5th December	-	-	-	-	-
First	12th December	25th October	16th January	22nd November	31st October	7th November	17th October	3rd October
Second	9th January	22nd November	20th February	TBA	6th February	23rd January	21st November	14th November
Third	13th February	24th January	20th March		6th March	6th March	9th January	13th February
Fourth	13th March	21st February	-	-	-	-	-	-
Fifth	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
*Semi-Final	10th April	21st March	20th April	TBA	13th April	8th April	20th February	6th April
*Semi-Final	17th April	4th April	22nd April	TBA	20th April	15th April	6th March	8th April
*Semi-Final 2nd Leg	-	-	-	TBA	15th April	14th April	-	13th April
*Semi-Final 2nd Leg	-	-	-	TBA	21st April	21st April	-	14th April
FINAL	4th May	9th May	21st May	13th May	5th May	7th May	3rd April	11th May

FAW REGIONS CUP FINAL 2010

NEWFA 1 v GWENT COUNTY FA 5

Played on Saturday 15th May 2010

at Newtown FC

Penley's dream of European Football ended at Newtown's Latham Park when they eventually succumbed to a powerful representative side from Gwent. The winners now go forward to represent Wales in the UEFA Regions Cup in Croatia later this year, and we wish them all the very best in their quest for glory. This was the biggest game most of these player's have ever been involved in, but they set about their task in a most "professional" way for a strictly amateur team. The early exchanges were very cagey on a bumpy surface, but the boys from NEWFA were playing the better football without testing the Gwent keeper. It was already evident though, that Gwent had a few decent players particularly up front, and it was one of these - Luke Lewis - who opened the scoring in the 16th minute. Following a quick throw from keeper Michael Platt the ball was played inside, but Gwent won the ball and a shot came in from Luke Lewis. Platt dived to his right and looked to have it covered, but it took a wicked bounce in the heavily sanded goal-mouth and beat him but struck the post, Morgan followed in for a simple tap-in from just three yards. Eight minutes later and a low free kick from the left was not cleared and beat two NEWFA defenders before another tap-in from close range for a 2-0 lead for Gwent. Morgan went through unchallenged after 33 minutes and was left with just Platt to beat, but a superb save by the NEWFA stopper kept NEWFA in the game. Slowly, NEWFA managed to get a foot-hold in the game and following a free-kick on the left a superb header from Aled Gardener at the back post in the 44th minute gave renewed belief and sent NEWFA in to the half-time break just 2-1 down.

Everyone at the game thought this late goal would give Gwent a jolt in their confidence, but how wrong we all were, as it seemed to spur them on to greater efforts in the second period. On the hour, another free kick from the Gwent left failed to be cleared and was headed home to restore their two-goal lead. Platt pulled off another save to keep NEWFA in the game but could do nothing about Gwent's fourth goal after 72 minutes when yet again a failed clearance was slotted home by Lewis. Then with ten minutes to go came Gwent's fifth and Lewis's hat-trick, although Platt almost pulled off another save, the ball just squirming in after he had saved at his near post. The boys from Penley can be extremely proud of their achievements for getting to this Final against all odds, and yet again they conducted themselves superbly before, during and after the match, just has they had in all previous Regions Cup Qualifiers. Their heavy work-load of playing so many games the last three weeks seemed to catch up with them as they ran out of steam in the second half, but they never gave up, and in particular Mike Bywater, Guy Handscombe, Michael Platt and Martin Jones stood out for the NEWFA representatives.

Line-up - Penley unless stated: MICHAEL PLATT (Llay Welfare); RITCHIE HAMER (Capt) GUY HANDSCOMBE, MARTIN JONES, ALED GARDENER, MIKE BYWATER, BEN WILDE, JOE LUNT, ADAM PUGH (Penyffordd), SIMON TUDOR, LEIGH SALISBURY.

Subs: MATTY HOLMES (Rhos Aelwyd), LIAM VALENTINE, TOM ROGERS, ANDREW BITHELL (Rhos Aelwyd), SHAUN CARTWRIGHT, NICK OWEN (Castell Alun Colts), OWEN WARD.