Saints and Carmarthen through to Word Cup final

THE NEW Saints will face Carmarthen Town in the final of this season’s Word Cup but only after a controversial dismissal at Park Hall last night.

With the semi-final level at 2-2 midway through the second-half, referee Lee Evans red-carded Airbus keeper Ben Chapman after Saints striker Jason Lampkin was brought down when in on goal.

Chris Seargeant converted the penalty past stand-in stopper Kyle Armstrong and the Saints went on to score twice more in injury-time to win 5-2.

The visitors had taken the lead in the 13th minute when Tommy Holmes headed in Toby Jones' free-kick against his former club. But the Saints surged ahead before the interval with strikes from Ryan Fraughan and Chris Marriott.

That came moments after the Wingmakers saw calls for a penalty fall on deaf ears after Connell Rawlinson appeared to push Mike Hayes in the box. However, just two minutes after the restart Hayes equalised.

But, when Chapman was sent-off on 63 minutes the whole complexion of the game changed and as well as Seargeant’s successful spot-kick, Alex Darlington and Lampkin gave a flattering look to the scoreline with late goals.

In the other semi-final, both of which were not being played at a neutral venue, Carmarthen beat Llanelli 2-1 at Richmond Park thanks to Julian Alsop’s second-half winner.

The Reds went in front on 17 minutes courtesy of Antonio Corbisiero but it wasn’t long before the home side were level with Casey Thomas equalising. It was nip and tuck during the second period but former Swansea City striker Alsop struck with 20 minutes left to send Carmarthen through to January’s final.