MID WALES YOUTH LEAGUE CUP FINAL AND FOOTBALL CENTRAL WALES YOUTH CUP SEMI-FINAL

RHAYADER Under-19s have lifted the Mid Wales Welsh Beef & Lamb Youth League Cup defeating Welshpool 3-2 in the final at Llanidloes, writes Lewis Pugh.

The successful Under 19s side have also reached Central Wales Youth Cup Final after smashing Caersws U19s 11-0 in the semi-final.

In the League Cup final at Llanidloes both teams had chances early on in the lively encounter.

Welshpool opened the scoring with a fine finish off the post and in.

However, Rhayader responded quickly with a flurry of attacks, finally being rewarded when Lyndon Jones curled and looped the keeper from his wing.

The Kites kept their foot on the gas and a second goal was found when a great ball down the line by Jamie Evans was met by Lewis Pugh who then guided the ball to striker Ollie Woods, for him to take a touch and smash the ball in the back of the net for a 2-1 halftime scoreline.

The teams started the second half still full of energy. It was the team from Welshpool to grab the first goal of the second half, which was the result of a corner finding the head of Calum Greatorex.

With the scores even and tensions rising, it took a very cool finish from Lyndon Jones following a precise through ball from Aeron Powell to put the Rhayader Kites ahead with 20 minutes to play.

Welshpool played out the remainder of the game looking sharp, but for some impressive last ditch tackling and superb saves from goalkeeper Fin Duncan-McKane they were unable to find the vital goal to send the game to extra time.

In the Central Wales Youth Cup Semi-Final Rhayader scored 11 goals against a Caersws side who had been forced to withdraw from the league this season. The scoresheet was opened early on when defender Henry McCarthy-Allen latched on to a loose ball in the box following a corner and within 12 minutes the Rhayader side was 4-0 up with two goals from Lewis Pugh and one for Jamie Evans.

In response, Caersws enjoyed a ten minute spell of pressure and were unlucky not to find a goal themselves.

However, with a fine display of passing and control throughout the half, the young kites went in at half time 6-0 up thanks to Ollie Woods and another Jamie Evans strike.

The scoring continued in the second half with midfielder Aeron Powell and defender Elliot Williams both getting two each.

A fine looping header from Kyle Morgan concluded the scoring from the Kites after a confident and dominant performance.

They will going into the final against Aberystwyth Academy in fine form, which will be played sometime in May.