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Risca United edged past Morriston Town 2-1 in a come-from-behind victory to secure their place in the next round of the FAW Amateur Trophy.

The Swansea-based side made the trip to the Centre for Sporting Excellence for a chilly evening kick-off on Friday November 24 – and went into the match as underdogs.

It didn’t stop them taking an early lead through dangerman Charlie Coates however. They didn’t have the lead for long though before the Ardal South West side were pegged-back before half-time through a Leon Thomas equaliser.

A Connor Evans header made it 2-1 to the Cuckoos, who managed the game out well to secure the win and book their spot in the next round.

Kick-off

Risca striker Leon Thomas opened the game as the sharpest for the hosts. He was doing his best to get others involved, but the Cuckoos had yet to find their rhythm.

A very early yellow card for Connor Evans set the tone for the match, referee Darren Adie would go on to brandish seven across the 90 minutes.

Despite seemingly being in control of the game, it was the visitors who struck first. Captain Sammuel Harrison began the move, as he skipped past a few in midfield before passing the ball out wide left to Samuel Wilson.

Wilson then curled in a dangerous ball near post, where top goal scorer for Morriston, Charlie Coates, was waiting. Coates leapt above the rest and glanced his header into the far corner. 1-0 inside 15 minutes.

After the goal, things seemed to settle almost immediately. Risca dominating the ball without really threatening.

One person who was threatening however was Coates. His speed with the ball at his feet made him difficult to tackle. He nearly caught goalkeeper Harry Morris out with a long range effort, but Morris did well to push the ball wide.

The visitors were growing into the game with 30 or so minutes played, they were definitely the more vocal side.

However, with the first bit of real concise play all night, the Cuckoos were level. A ball out wide from Lewis Ellis was fired into the feet of Thomas on the edge of the box, and his first touch was perfect.

It allowed him to bypass the defence and break into the box where he finished low and hard past the keeper – who maybe could have done better.

The yellow cards continued to be shown, which riled up both dugouts, who were appealing for everything.

Risca ended the half as the stronger side, a free-kick from Mitchell Palmer nearly caught Samuel Morton out, and a cross from Jak Lewis on the whistle should have been poked home by one of the Risca forwards.

Second-half

There was a good intensity to start the second-half. Both sides seemed keen to warm-up with the temperature dropping, and were moving the ball well.

Thomas had the first effort of the half, over the bar, but who can blame him for having a go the way he was playing.

Harvey Selway was seeing more ball down the right, his pace was difficult to match but the end product wasn’t quite there.

It was Daniel Battle who had the best chance to give his side the lead, capitalising on a mistake from the defenders at the back post, Battle still had a lot to do when he struck a first time shot that just skimmed over the bar with an hour played.

Down the other end, there were goal-like celebrations from the Risca defenders after a superb Morris save. He had no right to get a hand to Kieran Howard’s effort at the near post, which was headed firmly at goal but tipped onto the bar by Morris.

A few minutes later and the hosts thanked Morris by getting a goal down the other end.

A short corner down the right to Lewis saw an early cross to Evans at the back post – and his thundering header beat Morton in the blink of an eye. 2-1 to Risca and something to hold onto with 15 to go.

Substitute for the visitors, Arwel Rees, had a shot saved by Morris, and it felt like the Cuckoos would need one more to kill this one off.

The goal wasn’t needed however. Risca slowed the game down, and gave away a few fouls anytime Morriston threatened to break.

A good result for Risca then against testing opposition. They’re ‘into the hat’ for the next round of the FAW Amateur Trophy, but will have their eyes fixed firmly on their next game against league-leaders Trethomas Bluebirds on Friday December 1.