Llandrindod Wells left themselves with too much to do as they bowed out of the JD Welsh Cup following a 3-2 home defeat at the hands of Ardal League North East rivals, Llangollen Town.

Llandrindod were without Jack Evans but Nyle Slade made his debut with Mark Truelove replacing suspended keeper, James Barker. James Wagstaff also made a debut from the bench and on Saturday’s showing looks a good addition to the squad.

Meuryn Hughes gave Llangollen a first half lead following a corner and that one goal separated the sides at the interval although Llandrindod had played the better football. Hughes doubled the visitors’ lead two minuted into the second half when he drilled a shot which went straight through Truelove. Two minutes later and Llandrindod really had a mountain to climb as Hari Gould added a third for Llangollen with a strong run and finish.

A triple substitution paid off for the Spa Men and two of their replacements combined to pull a goal back with Samed De Groot seeing his cross fumbled by keeper Ben Lloyd for Ruben Edwards to pounce from close range. De Groot then further reduced the deficit when Kejan Foryszeswi found him out on the right and with the keeper charging off his line he netted from some 30 yards, the ball bouncing into an unguarded net. There was still some 20 minutes left to play and Danny Hall was denied by Lloyd but despite probing, Llandrindod, who were definitely the fitter side, were unable to carve any clear openings and were left to reflect on a tie which on another day they could well have won.

Elsewhere, Rhys Thomas marked his return to The Weirglodd with two goals and two assists as Rhayader Town progressed to the second qualifying round of this season’s JD Welsh Cup with a 5-3 victory over Blaenau Ffestiniog Amateurs. Spectators certainly got their money’s worth in an eight-goal thriller to greet the start of the new season.

Rhayader were quick out of the blocks with Cameron Mills and Thomas handing them an early two-goal lead. Cai Price pulled one back for the North Wales side and Gethin Roberts levelled the scores in first half stoppage time. But straight from the kick-off, the inspirational Thomas lobbed the keeper to give Rhayader an interval lead.

Cai Jones again tied the scores with almost an hour gone and after the post denied Thomas his hat-trick, Ollie Leadbetter put Rhayader ahead again on 86 minutes before Oscar Davies sealed the win with a debut goal.

Knighton Town are also through in the Welsh Cup with Jack Hoyle bagging a late hat-trick in a 6-1 win at Penyffordd Lions from the North East Wales Premier Division.

The Radnor Robins forged a two-goal interval lead through Luke Boundford, his second coming from the penalty spot. The returning Kieran Dovey made it three early in the second half before Daniel Shaw reduced the arrears for the hosts. But that was as good as it got for Penyffordd as Hoyle regained Knighton’s three-goal advantage on 80 minutes before going on to complete an opening day treble.

Radnor Valley’s JD Welsh Cup run ended in heartbreak as they lost 5-4 on penalties to Morriston Town after a 2-2 draw at The Dingle.

The Goats made a bright start and took the lead on 10 minutes when Jack Clarke rounded the keeper to finish after a smart pass from Tim Office. Morriston hit back with a penalty from Charlie Coates before taking the lead through the same player just before half-time.

Despite missing several key players, Radnor pushed on and levelled late through Clarke’s second after a free-kick caused chaos in the box. Both sides had chances to win it in normal time, but it came down to penalties. After four successful spot-kicks each, Geraint Lloyd’s miss allowed Taylor Evans to seal victory for Morriston.

Builth Wells suffered a cruel defeat on penalties at Lex X1 who snatched a late equaliser to make it 1-1 before triumphing in the shoot-out.

The Bulls travelled in hope rather than expectation with no fewer than six teenagers in their matchday squad. But their youngsters put in a huge shift and were just seconds away from reaching the next round against 10-man Lex who had Josh Betteley sent off on 20 minutes for a nasty challenge on Brad Rollinson. There were few chances at either end in not the best of games and it was Builth who edged in front on 75 minutes. Harry Edwards has returned to his home town club from Newtown Academy and the talented 16-year-old put Rollinson through and he curled his effort into the top corner. It looked as if that one goal would do but in stoppage time, George Baxter took advantage of a poor clearance to level and send the tie to penalties, which the hosts won 6-5.

Hay St Marys had a day to forget as they crashed out beaten 12-0 at Newport Corries whose new signing, Jayden Ward helped himself to five of the goals.

A weakened Kerry were thumped 7-1 at home by Penycae whose Osian Williams and Zac Davies both registered hat-tricks with Luke Mumford gaining Kerry’s consolation from the penalty spot. But there was success for other Mid Wales sides from the Ardal North East with Bow Street, Dolgellau and Llanfair United all going through.

Rhys Hughes starred with a hat-trick as Bow Street, who had former Builth Wells defender, Joe Wozencraft in their line-up, won 4-0 at CPD Cefni, while Gerwyn Williams and Will Gruffydd (2) steered Dolgellau to a 3-1 verdict over Llanfairfechain Town. Llanfair beat Gaerwen 4-0 with Josh Astley (2), Ryan McVeagh and player-manager, Karl Seliaerts on target.

Forden United avenged a defeat in the MMP Central Wales League (North) title decider on the last day of last season by winning 2-1 at Llanrhaeadr. Ryan Edwards netted both goals while Billy Clarke missed a penalty for Llanrhaeadr. In the other all Mid Wales clash, Dylan Tilsley scored the all important goal for Berriew in a 1-0 win over a much changed and improved Llanfyllin Town.

As well as Rhayader Town, there were wins for other Central Wales League (South) teams with Ffostrasol, Llanidloes Town and Machynlleth all in the hat for the 2nd qualifying Round. Andrii Solyliak, Keane Moore and Tomos Rogers netted for Ffostrasol in their 3-2 victory at Tonyrefail while Leo Waterhouse got off the substitute’s bench to earn Machynlleth a 1-0 passage over Menai Bridge Tigers. Joe Evans (2), Lewis Jones, Alex Jones and Steff Marsham contributed to Llanidloes Town’s 5-2 win over Llanfairpwll.

Other Mid Wales teams to progress were Four Crosses who beat Talysarn Celts 3-0 thanks to Rueben Coslett-Hughes, Max Thomas and Lewis Birch, Llansantffraid Village who edged out Bro Cerwyn 2-1 with goals from new signings, Armani Bennett and Stephen O’Neill and Welshpool Town who beat Meliden 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw with new signing, Jake Ellison having given ‘Pool the lead.