JONATHAN Evans marked his return to Penrhyncoch’s ranks by scoring a brace as the Roosters secured a 3-0 win over Cymru Alliance rivals Ruthin in the JD Welsh Cup, to set up a third round tie at Rhyl next month.

The front runner, who completed his switch from Aberystwyth Town back to Cae Baker in the week, was soon in the thick of the action, rattling the woodwork in the first half with a terrific strike.

He then netted twice after the break, either side of a goal from substitute Liam Doherty, as Penrhyn made their superiority count to book their place in the next round of the competition.

Manager Gari Lewis was delighted with the manner in which his side dispatched their visitors, and was quick to praise Evans’ contribution in his first game back.

“Things didn’t quite work out for him at Aber, but it’s fantastic to have him back here, he’s a big player for us,” he said.

“He blended in quickly, he’s a wonderful talent, and young players like Liam Doherty and Dafydd Carruthers are going to learn from him. I am really looking forward to them playing together.”

Lewis was delighted to have reached the next round of the Welsh Cup, in which the Welsh Premier big guns join the draw.

“I’m proud, it’s great for the profile of the club to be in the last 32 of Wales’ biggest cup competition,” he commented.

“We’d have taken whoever we got in the next round, ideally we’d like to have been at home, but it’s just fantastic to be in it.

“Ruthin was never going to be easy. They have had a tough time in the league, but they are a dangerous side on the counter attack, and when you look at their results, they’ve never had a hiding.

“We had our chances in the first half, so you’re always wary when it’s 0-0 at half time, particularly with them a danger on the break, so the first goal was important.

“There were a lot of good signs on Saturday. We had four players missing, so it shows that we’ve got a strong squad when everyone is available to play.”

Having already won 1-0 at lowly Ruthin in the Cymru Alliance earlier this season, the Roosters made the running from the first whistle, but their visitors held firm.

Evans went close to making the breakthrough on the half hour when latching onto a long ball from Owain James, before smashing his 35-yard shot against the bar.

After the break, the Roosters finally found a way through on 63 minutes when Jonathan Evans put the finishing touch to a cross into the box from Elian Evans.

Substitute Doherty then added a second goal when firing home powerfully on 74 minutes, following a quick break, just moments after coming on, before Jonathan Evans settled the issue in the closing stages with his second goal of the game.

Penrhyn have a free weekend as the league takes a breather on Saturday due to Wales’ World Cup qualifier with Serbia, before then resuming hostilities at home to Denbigh Town the following week.

The break will give Jon Foligno and Dafydd Carruthers time to get back to fitness, while Florin Burcea and Liam James could also come back into contention.