"I LOVE A PENALTY SHOOT OUT" SAYS WELSH CUP HERO MIKE LEWIS

It's perhaps one of the oldest clichés in the game. In a cup game, anyone is capable of beating anyone and yesterday certainly proved that as Town needed spot kicks to dispatch Wales Alliance Holywell Town at Halkyn Road, writes Matthew Wallace.

The Seasiders played large parts of the game with 10 men after centre half Steven Wright saw red following two yellow cards early in the second half. But despite the numerical disadvantage, it is Town that now entertain Airbus UK in the next round of the competition. Mike Lewis was the hero of the day, saving a trio of spot kicks and his manager Ian Hughes, was keen to praise the man between the sticks.

“It’s no surprise with Mike. We know he’s got that quality about him and he showed that today. He’s a great shot stopper and we saw that today not only in the penalty shootout, but in the game as well. He was a doubt for today as well as he’s been suffering from the flu but he’s played through it and he’s the hero.”

The hero of the hour Lewis stated, “I love a penalty shoot out. I have my own routine that I stick to. I was confident that I could save at least two of them and I was lucky to get number three really. I’m just happy to get the win. It’s a very difficult place to come.”

Aber faced injury worries both before and during the game but even in the face of increased adversity, Town managed to find a way to progress.

“It was tough with injuries and we’ve had to change two of the back four during the game. Stuart Jones picked up an injury in the warm up but he got through it. Sion James got injured so we had to put a centre back at right back and then Craig Williams who’s the best left-winger in the league we’ve had to play at left back. It disturbed us slightly as we don’t want to be changing as much as we did.

“Both those chances came in extra time as well so it demonstrates the fitness of the players playing with 10 men and still creating chances. I can’t believe Geoff Kellaway’s doesn’t go in and the keeper’s pulled off a great save from Mark Jones. It demonstrates the fitness and character of the players to deal with the occasion. There were a lot of fans behind that goal urging Holywell on. I’m really pleased with the way Luke Sherborn, Chris Venables and Chris Davies took their penalties.”