Trefelin 2-3 Airbus UK Broughton
- Airbus claim national glory in Welsh Blood Service League Cup
- Wingmakers led at half-time through George Peers’ strike
- A frantic second half followed but Airbus held onto their lead
An enthralling second half saw JD Cymru North runners-up Airbus UK Broughton thwart a late Trefelin fightback to lift the Welsh Blood Service League Cup final trophy at Park Avenue.
A cagey start saw Trefelin and Airbus face each other for just the second time in history. With both sides still finding their way into the game, chances remained at a premium for the opening half hour.
Having made the headlines in the Southern final, Lee Trundle fired a free-kick into the wall, but it was Airbus who edged their way into control of the contest.
Trefelin were let off the hook when George Peers prodded over from close range after Tyler McManus’ hopeful effort rebounded off the crossbar.
But Peers would put the JD Cymru South side to the sword minutes later, latching onto Darny Warren’s chipped pass before drilling the ball past Alex Pennock.
Trundle threatened to restore parity in spectacular fashion, turning on the ball just past the halfway line before sending an audacious dipping effort dangerously past the Airbus goal.
The Wingmakers started the second-half sharply however, and quickly threatened to extend their lead with James Davies prodding narrowly wide in the opening moments.
A second would soon arrive for the JD Cymru North side as their dominant start to the second period was rewarded when Jordan Evans struck a well-placed free-kick through a weak Trefelin wall and into the bottom corner.
Just as Airbus seemed to be taking a firm grip of the game, lively Trefelin forward Roan Piper threw his side a lifeline against the run of play, just four minutes later.
Beating goalkeeper Keighan Jones to an inviting ball forward, Piper retained his composure as he raced forward and coolly slot into the open net from an acute angle.
Trefelin looked to build on their momentum when substitute Callum Saunders’ swerving free-kick was parried over but a close range finish from defender Nathan Wiliams restored Airbus’ two-goal cushion.
With seven minutes remaining, Trefelin defiantly tested Airbus’s nerves after earning a penalty that Saunders thumped into the bottom corner to set up a tense finale. However, Mark Allen’s men held firm to sign off their campaign with silverware.
Speaking after the game, Allen said: “I thought we were superb in and out of possession in the first half and thoroughly deserved to go in [to half-time] 1-0 up. The only thing I said at half-time really was that I was disappointed we hadn’t converted more chances and put more entries into the box.
“Second half comes and we were a little bit sloppy, maybe we thought we had achieved it. Credit to Trefelin, they gave us a good second half and we made it difficult for ourselves, but we got over the line and it was a really good win.”
