The Saints go marching on 

It was a brilliant 4-2 win on penalties for Greg Draper’s Saints over Aberystwyth Town yesterday afternoon to advance to the Bute Energy Welsh Cup semi-finals after the game finished all-square in normal time.

This is the first time that the The New Saints have got to the semi-finals of the competition.

The four teams that do remain in the Welsh Cup are the current top four in the Genero Adran Premier, as Cardiff City, Swansea City, and Wrexham are the other three sides that are left.

A tough first-half

Aberystwyth Town were the team in control during the first 45, which led to Lleucu Mathias giving Gavin Allen’s side a 1-0 lead at the break.

Mathias found the back of the goal following a Niamh Duggan through ball that found the 16-year-old, who slotted the ball into the net from close range.

The 1-0 deficit at half-time was the same that The Saints found themselves in against Aberystwyth earlier on in the season during the 4-3 Genero Adran Premier encounter at Park Hall Stadium.

Fantastic turnaround 

Draper’s team did turn the encounter on it’s head during the second-half.

Ella Hartley found the Aberystwyth goal shortly after the break, before Georgia Griffiths got Saints’ second just past the hour mark.

There was to be one more twist in normal time, as Aberystwyth substitute, Gwenllian Mason chipped the ball over Mackenzie Haydn-Jones from outside the box in the 80th minute to send the game to spot-kicks.

Penalty shootout glory

So the game went onto a penalty shootout.

A lot of credit has to go to Haydn-Jones, who saved Modlen Gwynne’s penalty, the second of the Aberystwyth spot-kicks.

Libby Isaac then missed the Seasiders third, while TNS held their nerve to net four out of the five penalties taken, with Lia Lewis scoring the winning penalty for the Oswestry-based team to ultimately advance.

Unbeaten home record against Seasiders

The excellent record against a tough Aberystwyth team at Park Hall continues, as Draper’s side are now undefeated in four matches at home against the Seasiders.

TNS’ head-to-head against Allen’s team at Park Hall in normal time stands at three wins and one draw.

Saints will be hoping to continue their involvement in both knockout competitions tomorrow evening, as Rhyl 1879 are the visitors in the round of 16 of the Genero Adran Trophy.

 

Lead image by F28.Online