Seven in cup heaven

THE West Wales Intermediate Cup final between Seven Sisters Onllwyn and Trostre at the Swansea.com Stadium started off at a frantic pace and there were several challenges on the edge of the Trostre area as Seven settled the quicker.

They looked to exploit the high defensive line of Trostre, who went into the match as the champions of the Carmarthenshire League.

Seven were posing an early threat and nearly went 1-0 up when they volleyed over from inside the area after a looping free-kick caused panic in the Trostre defence.

Seven were comfortable in possession when playing out from the defence and were also comfortable in possession when pressed.

On 17 minutes Seven produced a neat interchange of passes and their striker Campbell should have done better when well placed.

Trostre produced their first goal chance of the night when Jenkins played in Chris Price Williams, who took an early shot as opposed to beating the advancing keeper.

There were five yellow cards in the opening half, most notably Trostre’s Ashton Jones, who was sent off in the early stages of the second half for a needless offence.

Trostre went 1-0 up when Luke Jones headed home after 41 minutes when well placed.

Once Jones had been sent off Seven tried to make their numerical advantage count, and on 68 minutes their right-back Jonathan Douglas equalised, and from then on their greater energy levels exposed the 10 men of Trostre.

As the first 90 minutes came to a conclusion, both sides were guilty of being wasteful in the final third of the wide open spaces of the stadium, which was hosting a record crowd of in excess of 1,200 for a West Wales Intermediate Cup final at the ground.

Trostre were the first side to create an opening in extra time when Griffiths turned and shot over from close range, and Seven hit the bar midway through the first half.

Nathan Jones did put Seven in the lead, but it was cancelled out almost instantly when Trostre’s Chris Pryce Williams put away the rebound after a shot had been saved.

Trostre, playing remarkably well and defending with excellent organisation, should have won the match when Rhys Griffiths blasted the ball over the bar from close range.

In the penalty shootout, Nathan Jones scored Seven’s last penalty before Trostre’s Chris Waters missed his as the last act of a superb cup final that had everything you could wish for.

The Dulais Valley side’s spot-kicks were scored by Cai Thomas, Ryan Sams, Adam Campbell, Jonathan Douglas, Emyr James and Jones.