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HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY U19 1-4 THE NEW SAINTS U19
CYMRU PREMIER DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE NATIONAL FINAL
PLAYED AT NEWTOWN FC, LATHAM PARK, NEWTOWN

SUNDAY 5TH MAY 2024

MATCH REPORT BY STATTO
LEAD IMAGE: NIK MESNEY

After winning the Cymru Premier Development League North title without dropping a single point, The New Saints Under 19s rounded off their season in style with a 4-1 win over Cymru Premier Development League South champions Haverfordwest County in the National Final at Newtown’s Latham Park on Sunday afternoon to become overall champions for the first time in their history.

Saints took the lead in the 16th minute when, from Tyler Roberts’ corner on the left, there was a scramble at the far post before the ball ran to Dan Tilsley who stabbed it into County keeper John Chesters’ left hand corner from about a yard out.

Haverfordwest equalised in the 23rd minute when Jacob Owen’s right footed free kick from a couple of yards outside the left hand edge of the box into the middle found Fletcher Picton, who sent his header from seven yards into Saints keeper Henry Green’s right hand corner.

Saints went 2-1 up in the 59th minute when a poor kick out by Chesters went straight to Roberts, who fired his first time right foot shot from 20 yards past Chesters into the middle of the net.

Haverfordwest made their first change deep into the 65th minute when Jack Nicholas came on to replace Will Hughes.

Just 28 seconds later (now in the 66th minute), Saints went 3-1 up when Roberts’ ball over the top down the middle from halfway between the halfway line and the edge of the box found Louis Crofts, who ran forward before firing his low right foot shot from just inside the box into Chesters’ right hand corner.

Saints made their first change just into the 69th minute when Jake Morris came on to replace Crofts.

Haverfordwest made a triple change in the 75th minute when Kristers Kudrjavcevs came on to replace coming on to replace Callum Shirt, Alfie Evans came on to replace Ashley Watkins and Cameron Cridland came on to replace Picton.

Then just into the 77th minute, it was 4-1 when Nathan Doforo’s short corner from the right found Roberts, who took a touch to control before laying a low diagonal ball back to Tom Jones just outside the right hand corner of the box.  He took a touch to control and switched it onto his left foot before cutting in and firing his left foot shot from 24 yards into Chesters’ right hand corner.

Haverfordwest made their final change in the 80th minute when Archie Hillier-Wood came on to replace Lucas Davies.

Saints then made a triple change when Josh Taylor came on to replace Ieuan Jones-Wellstead right at the end of the 82nd minute, Charlie Murphy came on to replace Paris Gray in the 83rd minute and Frankie Kynaston-Bradbury came on to replace Cian McIntosh, also in the 83rd minute.

There were no further chances of note for either side and with the fourth official having indicated a minimum of three minutes added time to be played at the end, the final blast of referee Tegid Richards’ whistle after a total three minutes six seconds of added time brought the game to an end and confirmed Saints’ win.

It was a case of second time lucky for Saints in the final, having lost to Aberystwyth Town in the National Final the previous time they won the Cymru Development League North in 2018.

Minutes later, the trophy was presented to jubilant Saints captain Luke Johnston by Mr Stuart Lawrence, a member of the FAW National Game Board.

Haverfordwest: John Chesters, Harri John, Lucas Davies, Seth Woodhouse, Will Hughes, Callum Shirt, Owain Davies, Ashley Watkins, Luc Owen, Fletcher Picton, Jacob Owen.  Subs: Jack Nicholas (for Hughes 65), Archie Hillier-Wood (for Lucas Davies 80), Cameron Cridland (for Picton 75), Alfie Evans (for Watkins 75), Kristers Kudrjavcevs (for Shirt 75).

Saints: Henry Green, Tom Jones, Alfie Clark, Ieuan Jones-Wellstead, Luke Johnston, Cian McIntosh, Louis Crofts, Dan Tilsley, Tyler Roberts, Nathan Doforo, Paris Gray.  Subs: Oliver Karolak (GK) (not used), Josh Taylor (for Jones-Wellstead 82), Frankie Kynaston-Bradbury (for McIntosh 83), Charlie Murphy (for Gray 83), Jake Morris (for Crofts 69).

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