NATHANIEL MG CUP FINAL
CONNAH’S Quay Nomads got their hands on the Nathaniel MG Cup after a comprehensive victory over brave STM Sports in the final at Latham Park last night.
The Nomads – contesting their fourth cup final in three seasons – dominated the JD Cymru South outfit from the outset with two first half Mike Wilde headers followed up by a screamer from Jamie Insall just after the re-start.
This triumph for Connah’s Quay means they have now both bagged domestic cups under boss Andy Morrison following their JD Welsh Cup triumph in 2018 – but this was their first League Cup success since 1996.
Morrison also led his side to the Welsh Cup and Scottish Challenge Cup finals last season.
Underdogs STM had seen off two JD Cymru Premier sides en route to the final and won two penalty shootouts, including one on this ground in the last eight against Newtown.
They had a chance on 12 minutes but Marcus Jones put his effort wide of the target.
The deadlock was broken on the half hour mark following a Nomads corner.
Michael Bakare sent in a teasing left-footed cross from the right
PRESTATYN Town went 15 points clear at the top of JD Cymru North after coming from behind to win 4-1 at Ruthin Town.
Ruthin led early on thanks to Craig Wilkinson but that was cancelled out before the break by Oli Buckley.
Further goals within 10 minutes of the re-start from Danny Davies and Myles Hart put Prestatyn firmly in the driving seat before Hart added a fourth seven minutes from time. towards the six-yard box where Wilde planted a header into the corner.
The Nomads doubled their lead four minutes before half time and again it came from the head of Wilde following Kris Owens’ ball in from the left, with STM keeper Ben Boyer, rooted to the spot.
Firmly in the ascendency, the Nomads put the result beyond doubt just 24 seconds after the re-start after a stunning strike from Insall.
Wilde this time turned provider, heading a lofted ball from Danny Holmes back across the box in the direction of Insall who, on the spin, let the ball drop perfectly before flashing a volley into the net past the despairing dive of Boyer.
Skipper George Horan went close to adding another moments later and, with the Nomads determined to try and add to their tally, Owens and Wilde both flashed over.
Bower made good saves to deny sub Craig Curran and Wilde his hattrick before the Nomads celebrated their first League Cup triumph for 24 years – which also earns them one of the two places available to Welsh clubs in next season’s Scottish Challenge Cup.
Nearest challengers Flint Town United were not in action and now have two games in hand.
Guilsfield were also not in action yesterday and that allowed Colwyn Bay to move above them into third after a 1-0 win for them at Llanrhaeadr. Alex Downes’ goal on 31 minutes proved to be the difference while Bay were also thankful to keeper Andy Coughlin who saved a penalty in added time.