Airbus made the long trip to Holyhead Hotspur in Round 2 of the JD Welsh Cup. An overcast afternoon with a slight breeze made the scene for a great afternoon of football.

There was a couple of changes to the win against Flint Mountain with Tyler McManus and Kaiden Cooke returning to the starting line-up in place of Danny Warren and Mason Blackwell-Jones.

The host got us underway for the afternoon kicking left to right.

The first 10 minutes both teams were trying to find their feet as they tried to get the ball down and play on a soft but long grassed surface. And it was Cooke that had the first chance of the game. An Airbus throw-in found Kaiden Cooke, whose great feet allowed him to dance through the Holyhead defence, he pulled the ball back to George Peers and his effort was over the crossbar.

A minute late, Airbus did have the lead. Sam Rickett collected the ball in the middle of the park, and he played an inch perfect pass into Cooke, who had kept himself onside. As the Holyhead ‘keeper decided to go one way, Cooke made the decision to put the ball into the other side of the goal and make it 1-0 to Airbus.

25 minutes, Airbus created a great movement as they played the ball back from back to front. A pass into the middle allowed Kaiden Cooke to run at the Holyhead midfield. Cooke played a brilliant ball into Jordan Evans in behind the Holyhead full back for the on-rushing Jordan Evans. Evans delivery was just a bit heavy for Davies at the back post as the No.20 collected the ball as he was forced wide.

The quality of the ball into the box was pleasing from the visitor’s point of view and this time it was Kieran Evans’ time to deliver a great cross into the box, which found Oli Lanceley in the 6-yard box. Unfortunately, Lanceley found himself under the ball and was unable to guide the ball goal wards.

It was all Airbus at this point as the WingMakers defence were sniffing out any danger, and on this occasion the ball was at Jordan Evans’ feet and his shot from the left come crashing off the post.

Just after the half hour mark, Airbus had a 2-0 lead. James Davies received the ball on the right, and he played an unbelievable ball into Oli Lanceley as his run was perfect for the pass. Lanceley pulled the ball back for George Peers and right footed low drilled shot settled in the bottom corner as Guto Hughes was unable to get near to the ball.

They always say you are vulnerable when you have scored, and this theory was proved right for Airbus as they conceded. The visitors found themselves a bit open through the middle and Connor Owen exploited that and even though it looked like a foul on Josh Stevenson, Owen unleashed a strike that settled in the back of the net.

Davies was having joy as he was finding space between the lines and a run inside by the Airbus No.20 created space for himself to get a shot off, but his effort was straight at Hughes.

Holyhead scored not long after as a ball was played through to Craig Whealan as he beat the offside flag and his well-directed shot beat Jones to put Holyhead level.

On the stroke of half time, Airbus took the lead again. Once again, some fantastic play as Airbus played out from the back through Jones, who switched the play into Kieran Evans, his ball forward into Jordan Evans, allowed the Airbus captain find Peers with a pass inside and with a touch to set himself as he placed a shot into the bottom corner.

This was the last action of the half as Airbus went into the half time break back in the lead.

Sam Rickett got us back underway in the second half, with Airbus looking to add more goals to the scoreline and it wasn’t long before they had a 2 goal cushion.

James Davies set Tyler McManus, and his unbelievable placed strike found the top corner and left Hughes with no chance in the Holyhead goal.

As the hour mark passed by, Airbus were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position. Jordan Evans stood over the set piece and his effort from around 20 yards brought a save from Hughes as he pushed the ball wide, but it fell to Cooke unmarked and his shot/cross was collected by Hughes at his near post.

With 20 minutes remaining, fresh legs were introduced to the game with Oli Lanceley, Kaiden Cooke and George Peers making way for Danny Warren, Mason Blackwell-Jones and Sam Baker.

80 minutes, Warren found himself in space down the right channel and his ball into the box was aimed for Davies, but he was closed down very quickly by the Holyhead defence.

2 minutes left of the 90, Airbus put the game to bed. Holyhead cleared their lines from an Evans’ cross, as the ball fell to Sam Baker on the edge of the box and his shot nestled into the back of the net to make 5-2 to Airbus.

Final action of the game was the introduction of two academy players with James Allen and Ieuan Jones-Wellstead coming on for Sam Rickett and James Davies.

After an unsure 10-minute period in the first half, Airbus comfortably progress to the third round of the JD Welsh Cup.