The New Saints 2-1 Connah’s Quay Nomads
- Holders Connah’s Quay take an early lead
- TNS come from behind to lift the trophy
- Craig Harrison’s team secure domestic treble
The New Saints completed a remarkable clean sweep of domestic titles after they came from behind to defeat Connah’s Quay to lift the JD Welsh Cup for the 10th time.
It took just eight-minutes for the opening goal of the 136th JD Welsh Cup final to be scored as holder’s Connah’s Quay dealt a surprise early blow to The New Saints’ treble-winning aspirations.
The contest had barely time to settle when defender Jack Bodneham found himself unable to prevent Rhys Hughes from cutting the ball back into The New Saints goalmouth, allowing Declan Poole to tap-in at the near-post.
The Saints responded well to their early set-back however, ensuring the Nomads lead was short-lived. Rory Holden combined with Ryan Brobbel on a perfectly executed indirect free-kick, arrowing a fierce drive into the top-corner from outside of the box.
Any ambitions The New Saints had of asserting their dominance following the equaliser was met with defiance by Connah’s Quay, as the Nomads battled combatively in midfield to ensure chances were kept to a premium.
Saints threatened to press ahead when Rory Holden’s fed an inviting pass across to Daniel Williams, but the forward was unable to make a clean connection in the best of the remaining first-half chances, with the draw being a fair representation of the contest as the two sides headed in at the break.
Despite Connah’s Quay’s continued tenacity in the second-half, they were unable to deny the Saints from finding their groove. Craig Harrison’s side were duly rewarded on 54-minutes as they gained the advantage when a smart sequence of passes across the Nomad’s half culminated with Jordan Williams nodding home Danny Redmond’s inviting cross from 10-yards.
Max Woodcock quickly threatened to reply for Connah’s Quay, fizzing a curling effort over from distance as the Nomads pressed to forge an equaliser, with Rhys Hughes looking to instigate as the final headed into the final half-hour.
Facing increased pressure in the later stages, The New Saints stubbornly held firm as Callum Bratley and Declan Poole looked to craft an opening, while Connor Roberts – making his final appearance for the Saints – held onto a stinging Bratley drive.
Connah’s Quay desperately pushed forward in added time with goalkeeper George Ratcliffe joining the attack in the final moments, but their efforts came to no avail as The New Saints side edged towards clinching the JD Welsh Cup for the 10th time in their history, securing the domestic treble in the process.
Upon confirmation of the JD Welsh Cup, there was also reason for Penybont to celebrate with Saints victory securing them European football this summer, having finished the season as runners-up in the JD Cymru Premier.
As it happened
JD Welsh Cup Final
JD Welsh Cup Photo Album
Images available to purchase
