The New Saints lift the Nathaniel MG Cup for the first time since 2018

Match Report

Goals: Brobbel (7), Pask (19), Young (50), Cieslewicz (90+1, 90+3)
Yellow cards: Smith (45+2)
Substitutions: Cieslewicz for Williams (73), McManus for Young (73), Clark for Holden (77), Marshall for Brobbel (87)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Ashley Crowden/FAW

The New Saints defeated Swansea City 5-1 at Jenner Park to win the Nathaniel MG Cup for a record 10th time.

The damage was done in the early stages of the first half, with Ryan Brobbel and Josh Pask both finding the net inside the opening 20 minutes, but Craig Harrison’s side didn’t stop there.

Five minutes into the second-half, Brad Young added a TNS third, before two stoppage-time Adrian Cieslewicz strikes ensured the trophy headed back to Park Hall for the first time since 2018.

Ben Lloyd did pull a goal back with 58 minutes on the clock for the Swans, but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation.

It was The New Saints who had the first chance of the match with four minutes played from a free-kick 20 yards from goal.

Ryan brobbel had a go, but watched the ball land on the roof of the net following a well-struck shot.

The deadlock was broken with just seven minutes on the clock, however, and it was the Northern Ireland under-21 international who scored the go-ahead goal.

After a great initial save from Remy Mitchell to deny Rory Holden, Brobbel followed in the rebound to send a powerful right-footed strike into the empty goal.

The Saints continued to cause problems for the opponents, and could’ve doubled their advantage in the 11th minute as Rory Holden watched an effort cannon back off the crossbar.

Harrison’s side would’ve had their second soon after were it not for a vital Richard Faakye interception, but TNS did extended their lead with 19 minutes on the clock.

A superb overhead kick from Brobbel was turned home by December’s JD Cymru Premier Player of the Month, Josh Pask, to put The Saints in dreamland early in the game.

Swansea were struggling to deal with the intensive TNS pressure, and on the half-hour mark, needed their goalkeeper to come to their rescue with a diving save to deny a long-range Williams strike.

Three minutes before the break, the ‘home’ side could’ve further cemented their grip on the game as Brad Young beat the offside trap to race in behind the defence.

His effort was straight at the goalkeeper though, and the Swans survived.

Following the restart, Anthony Wright’s team could’ve pulled a goal back within seconds, but Connor Roberts pulled off an important save to deny Daniel Watts.

In the 50th minute, however, The New Saints appeared to have put the match to bed with a third goal.

After beating the offside trap, Brobbel sent an inviting cross towards the far post where Brad Young was waiting, and the former Aston Villa man was left with an easy finish to turn the ball home.

But just eight minutes later, the Swans enjoyed a rare foray into the TNS half, and thanks to a touch of fortune, it resulted in a goal.

Despite an initial save from Roberts, the ball struck the knee of Ben Lloyd on the edge of the six-yard box and landed in the back of the net.

Down the other end, Holden saw an effort deflected narrowly wide in the 63rd minute, before Young was denied by Mitchell nine minutes later.

Making a number of changes as the second period wore on, The Saints saw out the game professionally, and put further gloss on their performance with two stoppage time goals. 

It was one of those subs, Adrian Cieslewicz, who was in the right place in the right time to notch both of them from close-range to help his side run out eventual 5-1 winners on the night.

Following a short break, Craig Harrison’s side return to action north of the English border, as they take on Falkirk in the semi-finals of the SPFL Trust Trophy on February 3rd.

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