LLANIDLOES Town’s hopes of making further progress in the FAW Trophy came to an end with a 5-2 extra time defeat at the hands of Llanrug United.

Two goals down against their experienced visitors, they hit back with excellent strikes by George Clarke and substitute Josh Matthews, the crucial leveller coming five minutes from time, to take tie into the extra period.

Hopes of completing a stirring fightback faded as the north Wales visitors, currently unbeaten in the Lock Stock Welsh Alliance division one, struck three more times in the extra period to progress to the last 16.

“After going two down, the lads showed a lot of belief to come back the way they did, and can take a lot of credit from that,” said manager Hugh Clarke. “In the second half we were far better, and looked the side most likely to win it. The momentum was with us, we had chances, and their keeper made a couple of good saves.

“When they scored their third goal in extra time, that took the stuffing out of us, and gave them the belief.”

Llanrug, a physical and experienced side, breached the home defence in the eighth minute when Jonathan Sadler’s low drive was blocked, before he coolly squared the ball into the path of striker Alan Mark Owen, to place the ball into the back of the net.

United doubled their lead on 33 minutes, as striker Alan Mark Owen’s effort on goal was only half cleared by the home defenders, and the ball fell kindly to the feet of midfielder David Noel Williams, who fired through the crowded goalmouth and into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

The hosts struck back on 38 minutes with a superb strike from 25 yards out into the top left hand corner of the visitors’ net by midfielder George Clarke.

Both sides had chances in the second half, and the Daffs finally equalised on 83 minutes when Matthews powered a free-kick centrally on the edge of the penalty area through the wall and into the bottom left corner.

Llanidloes had the impetus going into extra time, but were stunned when striker Luke Phillips’ glancing header was turned into his own net by home goalkeeper Aaron Warrick.

With the Daffs stung, that was to prove the key moment as Llanrug wrapped up a 5-2 victory with two clinical finishes from Jonathan Sadler.

Sadler turned well just inside the penalty area and fired low into the bottom right hand corner of the net for his first goal, and five minutes from the end, a fine run by striker Luke Phillips down the left flank led to a superb low cross for the on rushing Sadler to hammer the ball high into the home net from 16 yards out.

Making his debut for Llani was Josh Hartrick from Caersws. The Daffs return to Spar Mid Wales League duty at home to Machynlleth on Saturday.

LLANIDLOES TOWN: A Warrick (K Williams 110 minutes), G Owen, Josh Evans, H Clarke, D Reynolds, E Clarke (J Matthews 75), M Savage, A Owen (Joe Evans 65), G Clarke, Rhys Evans, J Hartrick. Substitutes not used: O Lewis.

LLANRUG UNITED: D Roberts, J Phillips, E Williams, S Phillips, G Phillips, DN Williams, Ll Jones, G Lloyd-Jones (D Clark 65), J Sadler, AM Owen, L Phillips. Subs not used: C Williams, E Williams.FAW Trophy round five draw: Abertillery Bluebirds v Rhos Aelwyd, Buckley Town v Garden Village or Villa Dino Christchurch, Conwy Borough v Llanfair United, Llangefni Town v Hakin United, Llanrug United v Chirk AAA, Goodwick United v Penydarren BGC, Brymbo v Greenfield, Mynydd Isa Spartans v Grange Albion.Click on link below for the full North Wales round-up: