Nomads upset the odds to claim shock cup triumph

CONNAH’S QUAY ............. 2 THE NEW SAINTS ............ 1

THE New Saints’ dreams of completing the treble and going unbeaten in domestic matches in Wales went up in smoke as Josh Williams produced a wonder goal to earn Connah’s Quay Nomads their second JD Welsh Cup triumph.

Five times this season the Nomads had to play second fiddle to the JD Cymru Premier champions and Nathaniel MG Cup winners, but they somehow found a way to take the title off the holders.

Both teams took time to settle on a blustery afternoon at Rodney Parade and the opening 20 minutes were pretty much a stalemate.

But then the game exploded into action, with end-to-end action and goals to savour.

TNS thought they had hit the front when Ash Baker fired home, but his effort was ruled out for offside. The Nomads heaved a sigh of relief and quickly replied with a goal of their own.

Declan Poole crossed from the right and Harry Franklin swept the ball home from the edge of the sixyard box with his shin.

That gave the underdogs the lead just past the half-hour mark – but they didn’t stay in front for long.

Back came the cup holders and four minutes later Baker did get on the scoresheet as he headed home a superb cross from the left by Danny Redmond.

Nomads boss Neil Gibson claimed before the game his side had worked on a plan to upset the odds, but not in his wildest dreams could he have envisaged seeing his side take the lead again with a goal of outstanding quality produced by Williams.

It came moments after Jack Kenny had wasted a golden opportunity to restore the lead for the Nomads when through on the goalkeeper. But when Williams got his chance, he took it in style.

A deep cross was headed down to him near the penalty spot and he produced a bicycle kick that saw the ball fly into the top-left corner. It was a gaol worthy of winning any game at any level.

That came five minutes before the break and forced TNS to change their shape. Boss Craig Harrison brought on old heads Adrian Cieslewicz and Ryan Bobbel early in the second half and they played a part in giving their side greater energy.

The second half was dominated by TNS as they pressed for the equaliser but it simply wouldn’t come, even with eight minutes of added time.

The Nomads were under siege in the final 20 minutes, but they held firm to claim one of the club’s greatest victories.