Bangor and Prestatyn book their place in Welsh Cup final

A last-minute Chris Jones rocket sent the Welsh Cup holders TNS crashing out at the semi-final stage, while Prestatyn Town edged Barry Town 2-1 to end the plucky Welsh League club’s amazing Cup run.

Jones’ strike for Bangor just seconds from time was sensational, and a rare highlight in what was a slightly workmanlike encounter that ended TNS’ chances of a second successive league and Cup double.

In an even showdown between these two Welsh Premier giants, the tie took a decisive twist 12 minutes from time when 20-year-old Sam Finley, a half-time substitute for Aeron Edwards, showed his exuberance with a two-footed lunge on Chris Roberts that led to an instant red card.

It handed the initiative to Bangor who cashed in on the numerical advantage to extend the love affair of Neville Powell’s side with a competition they have monopolised in recent years.

They will start as firm favourites to lift the trophy for the third time in six years when they face Prestatyn in a derby final.

The best early chance at Rhyl’s Belle Vue ground fell to the Saints, with a stunning ninth-minute half volley from Ryan Fraughan producing a brilliant save from Bangor ‘keeper Lee Idzi.

Saints were on a 13-match unbeaten run, but Bangor were a much tougher proposition than the last time the two sides met when Saints won 6-0 in the league.

They had another great 75^th-minute chance to move a step closer to the double when a teasing cross from Fraughan looked to have set up top scorer Michael Wilde, but Idzi showed immense bravely to nip the ball away from the striker’s boot and keep Bangor level.

Jones then became the Bangor hero when he latched onto a long ball and superbly lobbed Paul Harrison to send his side into the final.

Brave Barry did their best to roll back the years and defy the odds but came up just short as Prestatyn made it to a first ever Welsh Cup final in the other game.

The six-time Cup winners and former Welsh Premier giants came close to emulating the heroics of Cefn Druids in reaching last year’s final, but the experience of Neil Gibson and his men gave the Seasiders the edge in a gripping semi-final at Latham Park, Newtown.

Billed as a David v Goliath clash, Barry were huge underdogs but did the club proud on the day with a big hearted performance that caused Gibson’s side no end of problems.

At the core of the Barry threat was front man Anthony “TJ” Nagi who proved a constant menace to the Prestatyn defence and, but for ‘keeper Jon Hill-Dunt, would have bagged a hatful of goals.

The Welsh Premier League side were made to work hard before Tommy Holmes and cultured player-boss Gibson combined to set-up Andy Parkinson for the Seasiders' opening goal after 18 minutes.

Parkinson turned neatly in the box before producing a clinical finish to continue his rich vein of goal-scoring form in Prestatyn colours.

But the lead lasted only two minutes as ace Nagi dragged the Dragons level when he beat Hill-Dunt to a long ball and kept his cool to beat a covering defender and plant the ball into the net as Prestatyn rushed to cover the goal-line.

Prestatyn’s Chris Davies had a second half shot hit the crossbar and then Jason Price fired the rebound against a post.

But journeyman Price, a veteran of more than 400 Football League appearances, created history as he made no mistake 12 minutes from time following a corner to put Prestatyn into the final.

But Barry refused to lie down and Michael Hartley came close to an equaliser when he volleyed narrowly over the bar.

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TNS all but secure WPL title in weather-hit weekend

The New Saints put themselves just three points away from a seventh Welsh Premier League title with a 3-0 victory at Port Talbot Town on Sunday (March 24).

Inclement weather meant that it was one of only two fixtures to take place over the weekend, and if TNS now defeat Carmarthen at Park Hall on Saturday (March 30) the league title will be theirs. They can afford to lose, for if Airbus UK fail to win their encounter with Prestatyn on Friday (March 29), then the title will already be on its way to Oswestry before they kick off.

Mike Wilde, Aeron Edwards and Jamie Mullan were the Saints’ scorers at the Gen Quip Stadium, as the Steelmen ended the match with 10 men following Lee Surman’s red card.

The home side started the brighter and Martin Rose and Surman both tested visiting ‘keeper Craig Harrison.

Yet Surman’s miserable afternoon began when he, along with Martin Rose, hesitated to allow Alex Darlington’s pass to reach Wilde, who headed home.

Harrison then spilt a David Brookes effort for a corner, from which Carl Payne hit the woodwork.

But Port Talbot’s resurgence was thwarted when Edwards doubled the lead on 28 minutes.

Scott Young’s side again started the second half in the ascendency, and they had a strong penalty shout turned down for handball.

But Talbot again self-destructed and Ashley Evans’ weak back-pass allowed Mullan to kill the game off before Surman’s match ended early with a straight red card.

On Saturday, Llanelli ignored their returning off-field problems to win a crucial relegation six-pointer at Afan Lido 3-1, despite playing more than an hour with 10 men.

The West Walians must again appear before a High Court Judge today (March 25) after having their fourth winding up order of the season served against them last week.

The local council also repossessed their Stebonheath Park ground’s social club, but the players produced one of their best performances of the season amid the turmoil.

Goals from Craig Moses, Jordan Smith and Jack McKenna all but sealed the hosts’ relegation from the Welsh Premier League, but they fought their own corner well in an entertaining encounter.

A quiet opening period was played out on a boggy pitch, but the game came to life on the quarter hour. A Craig Williams corner for the visitors was flicked on and Moses ran in at the back post ahead of a defender to stab home.

Moses then nodded tamely wide from an Adam Davies cross as Llanelli began to take control.

But towards the half-hour mark the home side enjoyed a period of pressure. First, Simon Prangley fired wide from eight yards when a corner was nodded down in to his path, Luke Borrelli then fired right across goal from a deep Chris Hartland cross, and Hartland saw a shot deflected wide.

Morris was very harshly given his marching orders on 28 minutes after catching Borrelli, and Lido missed further first-half chances through Anthony Rawlings and then Chris Phillips, who clipped the ball the wrong side of the post after the ball ran kindly for him off a defender’s legs.

Llanelli started well in the second period and, after 53 minutes McKenna sent Smith through on the left. He swung the ball in to the six yard box where Alex Evans stooped unmarked and somehow nodded it wide with a poor connection – an outstanding contender for miss of the season.

Llanelli never looked like ruing that miss, continually throwing themselves in the way of shots, passes and crosses in a dogged determination to protect their lead.

They doubled it on 66 minutes, Smith curling a free-kick over the wall and down in to the bottom right corner. Lido ‘keeper Kristian Rogers was very slow in getting down to it and will undoubtedly be disappointed not to have kept it out.

With the visitors looking like they might hold out they conceded in to injury time. The defence failed to deal with a long ball and a poor backwards header was pounced upon by Hartland, who cut in to the box and fired home.

But instead of piling on the pressure looking for an equaliser, Lido conceded again. Man of the match McKenna countered down the left and, unhindered, cut inside just as Hartland had moments earlier and fired home to seal a magnificent, and possibly last ever, victory for the Reds.

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