Graham Edwards Memorial Trophy round-up – Semi-final line-up confirmed after dramatic finale

The 52nd Anniversary year of the Graham Edwards Memorial Trophy looks set for an exciting climax with the four semi finalists now confirmed.

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Semi-final places confirmed

Last Sunday’s (12th July) afternoon kick off between Whitchurch Alport 1946 and Ellesmere United in Group A saw Ellesmere win 3-0.

Jonny Beddoe put Ellesmere ahead in the 40th minute and after Jordan Evans had doubled the lead in the 62nd minute, Evans’ second in the 73rd minute sealed Ellesmere’s win.

The evening kick off between Oswestry Takeaway FC and St Martins in Group B saw Oswestry Takeaway win 6-0.

Karl Bailey opened their account in the 22nd minute before Tom Freeman eventually made it 2-0 in the 61st minute. 

Matt Jones saw his penalty saved by Saints keeper Bradley Scott in the 66th minute but Bailey made it 3-0 from the rebound.

Bailey’s second of the night made it 4-0 at the end of the 73rd minute and after Freeman scored his second to make it 5-0 just into the 75th minute, Bailey completed his hat-trick to make it 6-0 in the 87th minute.

The busy schedule continued on Tuesday night (14th July) with Ruabon Rovers v Llangollen Town in Group B, which saw Llangollen win 3-0.

Will Cooke put Llan ahead in the 23rd minute and after sub Olly Clowes had made it 2-0 in the 61st minute, Jamie Hands completed the scoring to make it 3-0 in the 88th minute.

Then on Thursday night (16th July), the Group A game between Whitchurch Alport 1946 and Cross Foxes, Gobowen saw Whitchurch win 3-1.

Harry Cunningham put Alport ahead just into the 8th minute, Teddy Hall made it 2-0 in the 41st minute and after Joe Pierpoint had pulled a goal back for Cross Foxes in the 51st minute, Tom Clive made it 3-1 in the 64th minute.

Late drama decides Group A

Then on Friday night (17th July) in a game that had been switched from Wednesday 15th July to avoid a clash with England’s World Cup Quarter Final with Norway the same night, West Felton played Ellesmere United in Group A in the deciding game to see which two teams would progress to the knockout semi finals.

Going into the game, West Felton were top on six points with a plus five goal difference, Ellesmere were second on three points with a a goal difference of zero and Cross Foxes, Gobowen were in third place also with threes points and a negative goal difference of one. 

Whitchurch Alport were bottom, also with three points and a negative goal difference of four but were out of the running to qualify.

With West Felton having already pretty much qualified for the semi finals, a win or draw for Ellesmere would see them through with Cross Foxes missing out. 

However, a defeat for Ellesmere by a margin of two or more clear goals would see Cross Foxes go through on goal difference.

After a goalless first half, there was high drama in the second half with Harley Greig (63rd minute) and Zach Lea (58th minute) giving Ellesmere a 2-0 lead.

West Felton pulled a goal back in the 62nd minute through sub Nathan Murdoch just fpur minutes after he had come on and then at the end of the 72nd minute, it was unbelievably 2-2 when Louie Millington equalised.

Drama

The drama didn’t end there as Millington scored his second goal of the night to put Felton 3-2 up in the 77th minute to turn the game on its head.

There were no further goals to leave the final score of 3-2 to West Felton and see them win the group on nine points.

However, the result left both Ellesmere and Cross Foxes tied on three points with not only their goal difference (-1) level but their goals scored tally the same as well.

With competition rules stating that if sides were level on points, goal difference would come into play and if that was level, it would be down to goals scored. 

With that level as well, it would be the head to head result between the two which would decide who went through and with Cross Foxes having won that encounter 3-1, it is they who go through to the semi finals by the narrowest of margins as group runners up with Ellesmere missing out.

Group B qualification picture clear

Looking ahead to today (Sunday (19th July), there are two important fixture changes to note regarding the double header of final games in Group B to avoid a clash with the World Cup Final.

The order of those games has been changed and the originally scheduled 6.00pm evening kick off for the Ruabon Rovers against St Martins game has been brought forward to 10.30am.

The originally scheduled 2.00pm kick off will still be between Oswestry Takeaway FC and Llangollen Town.

However, the situation regarding who qualifies for the semi finals is clear-cut as both leaders Oswestry Takeaway FC and second placed Llangollen Town have already made it through, with third placed Ruabon and fourth placed St Martins both eliminated.

Semi-final schedule confirmed

Looking ahead to this coming week, the first semi final between Group A winners West Felton and the eventual runners up of Group B is on Tuesday 21st July at 6.30pm.

The second semi final between the eventual winners of Group B and Group A runners up Cross Foxes, Gobowen is on Thursday 23rd July (also 6.30pm). The final is on Sunday 26th July at 3.00pm.

For confirmation of any changes, please call Statto (Media Officer for the tournament) on 07719 954727.

A reminder that all the games are played at Gobowen Playing Field, which is on the B5069 St Martins Road in Gobowen and that all the money raised from the tournament goes to Leukaemia Research.

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