ARON IS NOMADS HERO IN CUP SEMI

CONNAH’S Quay Nomads booked their place in the JD Welsh Cup final after Aron Williams struck in the 90th minute to settle a scrappy semi-final clash with Bala Town 1-0 at Llandudno.

Williams converted Luca Hugan’s pass. Moments earlier Bala had been reduced to ten men when Kieran Smith was given a second booking.

Neil Gibson’s side will face the winners of the other semi-final between holders The New Saints and Cardiff Met, which is being played at Newtown next Saturday.

The New Saints, meanwhile, will today attempt to make more history and take another step towards an unprecedented quadruple.

With the JD Cymru Premier title and Nathaniel MG Cup already in the Park Hall trophy cabinet, TNS now bid for their third trophy of the season when they take on Scottish Championship outfit Airdrieonians at Falkirk Stadium in the SPFL Trust Trophy final.

Should they succeed, TNS will become the first side outside Scotland to lift the trophy.

Craig Harrison’s side are also back at the scene of their semi-final victory against Falkirk on 3 February when Brad Young’s first half goal was enough to send TNS through 1-0.

It followed victories over Arbroath, East Fife – after a penalty shootout – and Hibernian B in earlier rounds.

Hitman Young has fired five goals in those four games, with the JD Cymru Premier’s leading marksman netting in every round in the competition.

Meanwhile Glasgow-born TNS forward Declan McManus was in the Ross County side that beat Connah’s Quay Nomads 3-1 in the final in 2019.

His current boss Harrison was on the Nomads coaching staff that day when they became the first Welsh side to appear in the final but now hopes to go one better and lift the trophy with TNS.

There was only one match played in the JD Cymru Premier this weekend and saw Cardiff Met warm up for their upcoming cup showdown with TNS by picking up a 2-1 victory at Caernarfon Town in the Championship Conference.

Early goals from Chris Craven and Sam Jones put an end to the Archers’ run of ten games league without a win, stretching back to December 16.

Zack Clarke pulled one back for Caernarfon on 84 minutes.

Meanwhile two goals either side of the break from skipper Joe Hopkins secured the derby day bragging rights for JD Cymru South leaders Llanelli Town in a 3-1 win at Ammanford.