Barry Town United end The New Saints’ Nathaniel MG Cup defence with a 2-0 victory

Match Report

https://twitter.com/tnsfc/status/2027780867477680339?s=20

Yellow cards: Redmond (73)
Red cards: Holden (90+9)
Substitutions: Davies for Marshall (37), B. Wilson for Jefferies (77), Clark for Corness (77)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Lewis Mitchell/FAW

The New Saints were unsuccessful in their bid to retain the Nathaniel MG Cup for a third consecutive season as Barry Town United claimed a 2-0 victory at the DragonBet Stadium.

Ieuan Owen opened the scoring for the Linnets just two minutes before the half-time interval, before striking again in second-half stoppage time to seal victory for his side.

It’s only the second time that the Saints have lost in the final of the competition, with the other defeat coming back in 2013 against Carmarthen Town.

Craig Harrison’s side made a good start at the DragonBet Stadium, and it was they who had the first chance of the night in the seventh minute.

Following a corner on the left, the ball fell kindly for Dan Williams on the edge of the penalty area, but the former Swansea City man sent his effort over the crossbar of goalkeeper Joe Thomas.

It took a while for the next chance to arrive, with both sets of defences showcasing their quality throughout the first half.

In the 28th minute though, Thomas was called into action for the first time, diving to his right to turn another effort from Dan Williams behind for a TNS corner.

Two minutes later, Northern Ireland under-21 international Ryan Brobbel tested the goalkeeper with a free-kick from the edge of the ‘D’, but again the Barry shot-stopper stood up to the challenge.

The JD Cymru Premier leaders were dealt a blow in the 37th minute when left-back Jordan Marshall was forced off with what appeared to be a suspected concussion – Danny Davies was the man to replace him.

The sides looked to be heading into the half-time interval with the score still goalless, but in the 43rd minute, disaster struck for the holders, as Andy Legg’s side made the breakthrough.

Capitalising on miscommunication at the back, Ieuan Owen pounced on the loose ball inside the six-yard box to open the scoring, much to the delight of the travelling Linnets contingent inside the stadium.

Nine minutes into the second half, there was an opportunity for the Saints to hit back through Davies, but after cutting inside from the left, the defender failed to test the goalkeeper with his weak-footed effort.

Harrison’s side had another chance to equalise in the 61st minute with Davies involved again.

The Wales C international sent an inviting cross into the six-yard box from the left, but despite Jordan Williams making contact with the ball, the JD Cymru Premier’s leading goalscorer couldn’t hit the target.

Down the other end, Barry remained a threat on the counter-attack, and in the 75th minute, Jack Edwards pulled off a superb save low down to his left to prevent Owen from scoring his second of the night.

With 83 minutes on the clock, substitute Ben Clark called Thomas into action with a first-time effort from the edge of the penalty area as the holders continued to search for a way back into the match.

In the first of six stoppage time minutes though, Legg’s side put the match to bed, as Owen beat Edwards from distance after another Barry counter-attack, making the score 2-0, and ensuring the destination of this season’s Nathaniel MG Cup is Jenner Park.

The Saints will look to put the disappointment behind them quickly, as they travel to Connah’s Quay Nomads in the JD Cymru Premier this coming Tuesday (March 3rd).

Craig Harrison’s side can clinch a record-extending 18th title with a victory at the Essity Stadium.