The depth of squad
With a fully fit squad to choose from, it was as much a case of who do you leave out as to who is included, as far as Craig Harrison was no doubt concerned.
With some extremely tough decisions to make, the selection justified itself with a final score of 6-0.
Ryan Brobbel scored the sixth goal, after also finding the net earlier in the game, but the previous two names on the scoresheet – Jordan Williams and Adrian Cieslewicz – had come on as substitutes.
It shows the depth of squad that Craig Harrison has at his disposal when he can also replace Leo Smith with Ben Clark and Danny Williams with Jon Routledge, as well as Cieslewicz and Williams for Josh Daniels and Declan McManus respectively.
MOTM, Danny Redmond
Having collected three awards last weekend at our end-of-season event, Danny Redmond continued where he has been at since the campaign began, when he was presented with the Sgorio MOTM bottle of champagne, following the final whistle at Nantporth.
He not only scored the all-important second goal just after the break, as Bala were beginning to get back in the game, but his overall performance, as always, was excellent.
Putting the ghost to rest in style
As we approached the 2022/23 JD Welsh Cup final, memories of the 2016/17 season were often raised in interviews with Craig Harrison.
In his last game at the club before moving to Hartlepool United, our head coach who is back at Park Hall in his second spell, was denied an historic triple-treble as Bala Town beat The New Saints 2-1 in the final, which was also played at Nantporth.
This time round, however, although the competition, opponent and venue remained the same, the past was dealt with in style courtesy of a 6-0 victory.
Making history
The 6-0 win was the highest score in a final since the 1930/31 season, when Wrexham beat Shrewsbury Town 7-0. The game, on that occasion, was played at the Racecourse Ground.
Wrexham also had an 8-0 victory in 1902/03, with the final again being played on home territory, likewise a 6-0 in 1910/11.
In the history of the competition however, which began life in 1877/78, this is the highest score for any winning side playing at a neutral venue.
Making history. Indeed.
The unbeaten run continues
The last time The New Saints lost in the JD Welsh Cup was on March 6, 2018, which means that the unbeaten run in the competition continues.
Therefore, come the final whistle at Nantporth, the length of time since TNS last tasted defeat stood at five years and fifty-five days.
Lead image courtesy of Brian Jones.
