A CORRIG McGonigle winning goal three minutes from the end of extra-time saw holders Glantraeth retain the Cookson Cup with a 2-1 win against a battling Penrhyndeudraeth, to complete the Welsh Alliance League and Cup double.

Penrhyndeudraeth, however, had made them battle all the way, and the result was in doubt right up until the final whistle.

On a hard, dry pitch at Nantlle Vale’s Maes Dulyn ground, with a fiercely swirling wind that made control difficult, both sides struggled to possession football.

The Gwynedd side got the best possible start as they took the lead after just eight minutes as Glan failed to deal with a high ball and as the ball ran loose a cross from the right was converted by Tomos Smith.

Glan were indebted to keeper Ben Heald when he dived to his left and managed to flip a shot from Neil Thomas onto the bar and over, but Penrhyn were also fortunate just before the break when a delightful chip from McGonigle came back of a post.

Five minutes into the second period Glantraeth were level, as top scorer McGonigle pulled the ball back from near the byline for Matty Lock to finish well.

The pressure was now on Penrhyn with Harry Galeotti only inches away from Darren Gowans’ cross, and then Galeotti fired over the bar just a minute later.

It took a tremendous tackle from Glan’s Gerwyn Jones right on the hour as Smith bore in on goal, and then Tom Hughes shot over for Penrhyn, but with no further scoring the game entered extra-time.

A stalemate was looking likely and a second penalty shoot-out in a week for Glantraeth, after their Mawddach Cup defeat.

McGonigle, however, struck in the 117th minute with his 59th goal of the season.

Controlling a long ball from Tom Clarke, he fired low and hard past Penrhyn keeper Robert Watson for the winning goal - and it was Glantraeth captain Matty Lock who was presented with the trophy at end.WELSH ALLIANCE ROUND-UPLLANDUDNO Junction snatched the Lock Stock Welsh Alliance division one runners-up spot after a thrilling three-club late contest, having finished just ahead of rivals Llangefni, with more goals.

With Glantraeth already confirmed as champions, the battle for second place was extended into the concluding fixtures, and Junction made it in the end, despite having the same number of points and the same goal difference as Llangefni.

Junction crucially registered a 2-0 win over fourth-placed Llanrug United, who had also been in the hunt for honours, courtesy of goals from Lee Ellis on 2 minutes and James Hobson on 52.

Meanwhile, Llangefni beat St Asaph City 4-0, landing strikes by Iwan Jones on 10 minutes, Jack Williams on 12 and Matthew Jones on 67 and 75, but needed one more goal to overhaul Junction.

Llangefni had also boosted their goal difference in midweek when they beat Glan Conwy 10-1 in their penultimate match, with Craig Roberts leading the way with five goals, on 17, 24, 58, 65 and 81 minutes. Matthew Jones added four quick-fire goals on 75, 77, 79 and 90 minutes and Iwan Jones scored from the penalty spot on 88 minutes.

Glantraeth’s final points’ total was 73, leaving Llandudno Junction and Llangefni both on 57 points, both with a goals-difference of plus-32, but Junction had crucially scored 10 more goals.

Llanrug trail on 54 points, and they are followed by Penrhyndeudraeth in fifth place with 49 points.

Trearddur Bay United and Abergele Town meanwhile drew 3-3, with the hosts netting through Dylan Roberts after one minute, Jordan Murphy on 40 and Dave Webb on 89 minutes, as against the visitors’ goals from Kieron Ellis on 35 and 76 minutes and Anthony Robshaw on 38.

Greenfield settled for a narrow 1-0 result when they appeared at Llanberis, where Leon Hughes separated the teams just past the half-hour.

• Glantraeth missed out on winning the Mawddach Cup in midweek as they lost out to Llanrug in a penalty shoot-out, after the game ended 2-2.

They fell behind on 7 minutes when Dylan Owen fired home at the second attempt from a penalty, but Mark Bridge levelled on 20 and Corrig McGonigle made it 2-1 on 55 - only for David Noel Williams to equalise with a penalty on 87.