Late Dan Williams winner sends Saints through to FAW Welsh Cup third round

Match Report

Goals: Davies (11), D. Williams (88)
Yellow cards: Smith (65), Bodenham (70)
Substitutions: Young for Clark (71), D. Williams for Smith (71), Hughes for Jefferies (71), Holden for Lock (81), Redmond for Farrell (86)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: James Bayliss/FAW

The New Saints booked their place in the third round of the FAW Welsh Cup following a 2-1 victory against Airbus UK Broughton.

An 11th-minute goal from Danny Davies gave the Saints the lead, an advantage the visitors maintained until the 66th minute.

Jordan Evans equalised with a well-struck free-kick to set up an exciting finish, but substitute Dan Williams scored what proved to be the winning goal two minutes from time.

The home side had the first chance of the night with five minutes on the clock when George Peers created space on the edge of the area.

The Airbus man got his shot away, but it was too high to test Jack Edwards in the TNS goal.

Six minutes later though, The New Saints made the breakthrough with their first opening, as Danny Davies volleyed home Ben Clark’s corner at the back post.

With 20 minutes played, Jack Edwards was called into action for the first time, pulling off a superb one-handed save to tip Peers’ powerful effort behind for a corner.

Just moments later, the Academy graduate was involved again, getting two strong hands behind a strike from Jordan Evans.

Mark Allen’s side had another opening in the 25th minute thanks to a mazy run from Kaiden Cooke.

The number 10 looked up and picked out Peers with a well-timed cross, but the latter failed to hit the target with his close-range header.

Chances continued to flow, with Louis Fallon then coming to his side’s rescue with an important stop to prevent Jordan Williams from doubling the visitors’ advantage.

With the Saints taking their 1-0 lead into the half-time break, it was still all to play for in the second period.

Following the restart, it was Craig Harrison’s side who were enjoying the better of the game, with an effort from Isaac Jefferies deflected behind for a corner, before Josh Lock called the goalkeeper into action with a long-range strike.

Just after the hour mark, last season’s Novira Cymru Premier Player of the Season, Jordan Williams, was causing problems for the home side, but after cutting inside from the right, failed to beat goalkeeper Fallon with his effort.

The game’s next goal went the way of the home side though, and it was Jordan Evans who equalised in the 66th minute.

After a foul by Leo Smith on the edge of the penalty area, the Airbus UK captain beat Edwards with a superb curling strike to set up an exciting finish at The Hollingsworth Group Stadium.

Following the equaliser, the Saints’ head coach turned to his bench, sending on Brad Young, Dan Williams, Rhys Hughes, Rory Holden and Danny Redmond in a bid to add more attacking firepower.

The changes proved to be inspired too, as Dan Williams scored what would prove to be the winning goal two minutes from time.

There was an element of fortune to the former Swansea City man’s strike, as it took a slight deflection off defender Joshua Stevenson to wrong-foot the goalkeeper, but it came as a welcome relief to those supporters of a green and white persuasion.

The Saints were made to work hard for their win, but safely booked their place in the third round of the Welsh Cup thanks to their 2-1 victory.

Harrison’s side are back in league action next Friday (October 23rd), when they welcome newly promoted Ammanford to Oswestry.

Kick-off at Park Hall is scheduled for 7:45pm.