The New Saints Reserves 3-2 Llandudno U23
FAW Reserve League North Cup final
Played at Bala Town FC, Maes Tegid, Bala
Friday 24th May 2024
Match report by Statto
The New Saints Reserves ended their season on a high as they beat Llandudno U23 3-2 in the FAW Reserve League North Cup Final on a dramatic night at Bala Town’s Maes Tegid ground on Friday evening.
Saints had gone into the game on the back of a 7-1 away league win over Holywell Town Development Squad in their final league game earlier in the week, which was their 8th straight win in all competitions and saw them finish as runners up to champions Connah’s Quay Nomads U18.
Meanwhile, Llandudno went into the game on the back of a 2-1 home win over Nantlle Vale Reserves in the Semi Finals of the FAW Reserve League North Cup the previous Thursday, which was their 10th straight win in all competitions.
They had finished in the 3rd place in the league, 11 points behind Saints.
Saints got off to the best possible start right at the start of the 7th minute when Oli Blayney’s short corner infield from the right found Jake Morris, who cut along the byeline and into the box before laying the ball infield to Caleb Afful. He took a touch to control and passed short to his left to Ben Richards, who took a touch and cut to his left before firing his low left foot shot from 14 yards into Llandudno keeper Tom Guinn’s right hand corner.
It was 2-0 just into the 22nd minute when Morris’ short corner from the right found Afful, who took a touch to control and cut infield to his left before seeing his low left foot shot from 20 yards deceive Guinn on its way into his left hand corner.
Llandudno made a half time change with Freddie Banning coming on to replace Jordan Hadaway.
Llandudno got the second half off to a dramatic start when Cieran Williams’ floated free kick from the halfway line between the right edge of the centre circle and the touchline found substitute Banning, who made an immediate impact by sending his free header from 14 yards into Saints keeper Oliver Karolak’s right hand corner to pull a goal back with just 48 seconds on the watch.
Llandudno made their second change right at the end of the 49th minute when Alfie Banning came on to replace Jenson Gee.
Then just into the 52nd minute, it was 2-2 when Ethan Roberts made a probing run from 6 yards inside Saints’ half on the left to just inside the left hand corner of the box, where he pulled it back for Levi Montgomery. His first time right foot shot from 12 yards was beaten out to his left by Karolak but the rebound ran to Cieran Williams, who fired his right foot shot from 14 yards into Karolak’s left hand corner to turn the game on its head.
Saints made a double change in the 61st minute when Leighton Brewer came on to replace Afful and Peter Arogundade came on to replace Luca Meek.
Saints made a further change right at the start of the 73rd minute when Hadif Hizamshol came on to replace Richards.
Then just into the 81st minute, Saints went 3-2 up when Morris’ low diagonal through ball from middle to left found Hizamshol, who won a challenge and ran down the left beating his man on his way towards the byeline before crossing into the middle where Brewer got in front of his marker to fire his first time shot from 4 yards into Guinn’s right hand corner.
Saints made their final change before the restart when player-coach Greg Draper came on to replace Josh Davies-Sewell.
Llandudno made their final change in the 82nd minute when Cian Evans came on to replace the injured Alfie Banning.
With the 4th Official having indicated a minimum of 5 minutes of added time at the end of the half, the final blast of referee Arthur Smallman’s whistle after a total of 4 minutes 57 seconds of added time brought the game to an end and confirmed Saints’ win.
Minutes later, the trophy was presented to jubilant Saints captain Oli Blayney by Mr Sean Bowden, Men’s Domestic Football Executive for the Football Association of Wales, who presented all the medals.
Saints: Oliver Karolak, Caleb Afful, Oli Blayney, Jack Airlie, Ben Richards, Josh Davies-Sewell, Luca Meek, Jake Morris, Harry Clayton, Lucas Alamanos, Paris Gray. Subs: Greg Draper (for Davies-Sewell 81), Hadif Hizamshol (for Richards 73), Leighton Brewer (for Afful 61), Tom Blaze (for Alamanos 73), Peter Arogundade (for Meek 61).
Llandudno: Tom Guinn, Steffan Roberts, Jordan Hadaway, Stephen Brown, Josh Humphreys, Mitchell Williams, Ethan Roberts, Levi Montgomery, Harley Doyle, Cieran Williams, Jenson Gee. Subs: Alfie Banning (for Gee 49), Bryn Williams (not used), Harri Jones (not used), Cian Evans (for Alfie Banning 82), Freddie Banning (for Hadaway 46).
