The New Saints manager Craig Harrison felt his side were fully deserving of their 11th Nathaniel MG Cup triumph after overcoming Aberystwyth Town 1-0 at Latham Park on Friday night.
After a scoreless opening period, Remi Oteh struck from close range three minutes into the second half in what proved to be the only goal of the game against a resilient Aberystwyth side.
Despite the slender scoreline, Harrison believes the end result was never really in doubt.
TNS retain Nathaniel MG Cup
“We controlled the game from the first minute,” he told Sgorio post-match. “We were never in any real trouble, I think they had one shot on goal, a couple of free-kicks, a couple of long throws but we were quite comfortable.
“We want to score goals, whoever we’re playing. If there’s only one in it, anything can happen. We would’ve liked to have killed the game off but it was as comfortable a game as we’ve had in a long time.”
The victory secures The New Saints the trophy for a second successive year but Harrison says he side remain hungry for success.
“We just want to keep going, we’re in a really rich vein of form, I think that’s 11 in all competitions we’ve won and we just need to kick on.”
Many had expected a far more convincing end result, with Aberystwyth Town facing an uphill relegation battle following a difficult season in the JD Cymru Premier.
The Seasiders display bore little performance to their league form with a resolute performance that left boss Antonio Corbisiero proud of what was the club’s first ever Nathaniel MG Cup final appearance.
“I thought my players were superb,” he told Sgorio. “We always knew they were going to be so ball dominant, but it was just that one moment of concentration where we just switched off, and so early into the second half.
“But I’m immensely proud of the players tonight. We said it when we first came in, we knew that there’s something there in the work-rate they show off the ball and things, it’s just in possession.
“We were a bit sloppy again tonight and we found it hard to get out, but we put in a huge effort, we know it’s in there and now we’ve got to concentrate on Connah’s Quay next Friday.”
TNS midfielder Dan Williams was named Man Of the Match after a dominant display which included him assisting the decisive goal.
Williams spun to receive the ball and burst through the Aber backline to send an inviting delivery to the near-post for Oteh to convert. With one trophy now ticked off, the midfielder has his sights set on lifting more silverware this season.
- Match Gallery: Aberystwyth Town 0-1 TNS
“Aber were good today and made it difficult for us and hopefully it’s the first of three trophies,” he said.
“We had a bit more of the ball in the first half, but the second half was tough. After we got the goal I thought (our performance) was professional, seeing the game out, and that’s something that we’ve got to show at times and I feel like we did that today.”
