Brobbel hat-trick secures quarter-final victory in South Wales

Match Report

Goals: Brobbel (12, 58, 65)
Yellow cards: Redmond (38)
Substitutions: Dafydd for McManus (39), D. Williams for Routledge (78), Wilson for Clark (79)

Match report by Stewart Bloor

Today’s quarter-final game against Cwmbran Celtic brought back memories from December 2018, when The New Saints secured a 3-0 victory in the JD Welsh Cup, courtesy of a Chris Seargeant hat-trick.

Celtic Park – now known as Avon Motor Park Arena – was again a happy hunting ground, as The New Saints won 3-1.

Enjoying the bulk of the possession in the opening minutes, The New Saints found themselves defending a free-kick with five on the clock, but the ball from Thomas Meechan bounced once in front of Roberts before the ‘keeper gathered safely.

The deadlock was broken though in the 12th minute when, following an excellent run of passes, it was Ryan Brobbel who tucked the ball away from close range.

The lead lasted just one minute, when another free-kick on the left from Meechan this time found a Celtic player, as Josh Rippon beat the goalkeeper from inside the box.

Roberts was then forced into making a good save when Alex Bonthron went for goal, following a chip into the area.

Ben Clark had a golden opportunity to restore the lead but his shot was wide of Lewis Watkins’ left post.

At the one-third stage, a shot from outside the penalty area saw Danny Redmond’s powerful strike also miss the target.

Following a free-kick from the right, Lewis Iles put the ball beyond Roberts but the flag was raised as the score remained level.

Half-time: Cwmbran Celtic 1 The New Saints 1

The visitors started the stronger of the two sides in the second period with the best of the chances falling to Leo Smith, who met Redmond’s cross only to see his header go wide.

In the 54th minute, Watkins pulled off an incredible save, as he pushed Brobbel’s goal-bound effort over the bar with one hand.

Four minutes on, Brobbel was tripped in the box and the referee immediately pointed to the spot as the number eight placed the ball on the spot and planted it in the bottom-right corner.

As we hit the final third of the encounter, a pass from Clark found Brobbel, who saw his shot hit the bar.

In the 65th minute Brobbel completed his hat-trick, when he connected with Ryan Astles’ header, by nodding the ball himself beyond the keepers’ reach and into the net.

Although there were no more goals, The New Saints had the better of the second-half and ran out 3-1, although Roberts was forced into another save in added time.