TNS AIM TO MAKE IT WELSH CUP NO.7
HOLDERS The New Saints and Connah’s Quay Nomads go headto-head once again in the Welsh Cup final at Newport County’s Rodney Parade tonight (kick-off 5.25pm).
After going through their title-winning Cymru Premier campaign unbeaten – and having already lifted the Welsh League Cup this term – Craig Harrison’s TNS ‘invincibles’ are now just one win away from winning a third domestic treble.
Achieving it would match the feat they achieved back-to-back in 2015 and 2016 during Harrison’s first spell at the club.
TNS rounded off their triumphant league campaign when they defeated Connah’s Quay 2-0 at Park Hall last Sunday, and it’s the Nomads – Welsh Cup winners in 2018 – who once again stand in their way.
In fact, the Nomads were the last side to defeat TNS in the competition, beating them 2-1 in a quarter-final tie way back on March 6, 2018 on their way to lifting the cup that year when they overcame Aberystwyth Town 4-1 in the final.
TNS are undefeated in the competition in the six years since. The cup returned to Park Hall the following season when they avenged that defeat by the Nomads the previous year in the final, running out 3-0 victors.
TNS boss Harrison is also bidding to win the third-oldest national cup competition in the world for what would be the sixth time as a manager.
“The Welsh Cup is a competition I’ve really enjoyed,” he said. “I’ve won it five times and it’s a really special trophy to lift.
“When you have a good look at it, you can see all the teams who have won it engraved and then the history of it dawns on you, because it’s a cup that’s been going for over 100 years.
“The journey to get there is always different; it just has so much excitement and drama and all those fairytale stories.
“It’s a massive game in the Welsh footballing calendar.”
Opponents Connah’s Quay, meanwhile, have enjoyed wins over Caernarfon Town (4-1), Prestatyn Town (8-0), Flint Town United (3-0) and Buckley Town (4-1) were followed by a narrow 1-0 win over Bala Town in the semi-finals.
“Getting into the cup final is always a special feeling, especially after last year’s semi-final loss,” said Nomads midfielder Josh Williams. “Trying to win the Welsh Cup was one of our goals that we set at the start of the season – and we are one game away.
“We’ve played really well in every round, but the standout moment has to be beating Bala in the semi-final, as they were the team that knocked us out last year.”