With Flint Mountain still reeling from back to back defeats in cup and league, the squad looking to refocus their efforts on a Premier Cup first round clash against Penyffordd Lions. The game was the first meeting between the two sides, with Penyffordd joining the North East Wales League this season, after previously operating as a Sunday league side. The squad was hit hard by absences this week and a reshuffle was necessary. David James Jones, Sean Wilkes, Ricky Bennett and Marc Gunther all returned to the starting line up.

It did not take long for the action to start, as Flint Mountain took the lead after just three minutes. From a throw in, the Penyffordd player missed the opportunity to clear the ball, as it run to Damon Griffiths on the edge of the penalty area. After Griffiths controlled the ball, Jake Williams arrived to fire a low effort past the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner. Both teams were battling hard to get goals, with Mountain controlling the game initially. With half an hour gone, captain Damon Griffiths was forced off the pitch with an injury, with Mark Hughes replacing him, and a further reshuffle was needed. With Penyffordd growing into the game throughout the half, the warning signs were shown when Ricky Bennett made a couple of good saves, before a free kick cannoned back off Bennett's crossbar. With just a minute to go of the half, Penyffordd did find an equaliser. From the edge of the area, the Penyffordd player lashed a low driven shot into the bottom corner, leaving Bennett no chance.

In the second half, Flint Mountain again reacted quickly, and retook the lead thanks to Jake Williams. Following a small scramble in the area, Williams found the space to fire a low shot into the bottom corner. The lead did not last long, however, as Penyffordd levelled just five minutes later. After breaking free down the right, the initial shot on goal was well saved by Bennett, but the rebound fell to an unmarked Penyffordd striker, who then beat Bennett at the second attempt from close range.

As the half drew on, both sides were then reduced to ten men. After a series of tackles went unpunished within seconds, Lee Beck's tackle on a Penyffordd player then stopped play. From an ensuing altercation between the two sets of players, Beck was shown his marching orders, followed by a Penyffordd player. With time running out, Sean Wilkes forced the Penyffordd goalkeeper into a fine save, before Flint Mountain took the lead again. Breaking down the right, Mark Hughes' ball into the penalty area was dorected on goal, forcing the goalkeeper into another save. Jack Aitken, however, was alert to the rebound and stabbed the ball through the goalkeeper's legs and into the net.

The action was not over, though as Penyffordd were awarded a penalty with five minutes remaining. Defender Andy Probert's shoulder challenge on a Penyffordd player in the area was deemed a foul and the penalty was given. Confidently, the Penyffordd striker made no mistake from the spot, with a well taken penalty into the top corner.

With the game forced to extra time, Flint Mountain took the lead for the fourth time in the game. After Jack Aitken beat his man, he delivered a low cross into the area, which was met by Marc Gunther, who turned the ball into the net. Flint Mountain then had an opportunity to put the game to bed, when they were awarded a penalty themselves. Jake Williams, on a hat trick, stepped up but his effort was again well saved by the goalkeeper. Despite this, Flint Mountain held on the finally secure the victory, and passage into the quarter finals of the Premier Cup.

Next up for Flint Mountain is the test of Acton FC in the league. Acton have only dropped three points in their seven league games so far, and sit just three points behind the Mountain in the league standings, with three games in hand as well. Kick off at the Northop Hall Pavilion is 14:00.

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