Cwmbran Celtic vs Taffs Well

Cwmbran Celtic crashed out of the MG Cup in their opening game of the season at Celtic Park losing the penalty shoot-out 0-3 to the Wellmen.

The visitors fielded a much-changed team from last season’s line up and they were much the sharper side in the 1st half in which Celtic managed to keep the score goalless thanks to two clearances off the line and two fine saves by debutant keeper Iwan Hooper. Celtic could have taken the lead early in the 2nd half, a Taffs clearance bouncing off their own bar and Lewis Iles’s ‘goal’ being ruled out for a very harsh foul challenge. Hooper rescued Celtic with two more great saves but Taffs struck a double blow with two goals in quick succession by Daniels (51) and Treharne (54). Celtic looked down and out as the clock ran down and they emptied their bench more to give the substitutes a run-out rather than expecting to save the game. However, in 10 minutes of time added on by referee Ben Schofield the subs turned up trumps, 16-year-old debutant striker Gabriel Howells stabbing the ball home (90+4) and defender Andrew Hewitt, pushed up front, latching on to a through ball to hit the net past the shell-shocked Taffs defence (90+9).

In the penalty shoot-out keeper Ed King made two fine saves from Alex Bonthron and Andrew Larcombe and Lewis Iles shot over the bar. Taffs converted all 3 of their spot kicks to win the tie. Gabriel Howells, a product of the now defunct Academy, became the youngest ever Celtic scorer in the Welsh League era age 16 years 236 days.