The students of Cardiff Met University produced the shock result of the Welsh Cup quarter-finals as they knocked out Cymru Premier league leaders Connah’s Quay 2-1 to end the Nomads’ hopes of becoming only the fourth team to complete the treble in Welsh football.
The Nomads had already won the League Cup last month and are four points clear of TNS at the summit of the Cymru Premier but it’s the Archers who are heading for the semi-finals of the Welsh Cup.
Only three teams have achieved the elusive treble in Welsh football: The New Saints twice, in 2014-15 and 2015-16, Barry Town in 1996-97 and Rhyl in 2003-04. And that’s the way it’s going to stay after the Nomads’ shock home quarter-final defeat.
Last season’s beaten finalists went ahead thanks to captain George Horan’s header but were pegged back by Met’s Chris Baker in first-half stoppage time, with Will Evans scoring in the second half to secure the Archers’ place in the last four.
In yesterday’s other quarter-final Welsh Cup holders TNS crushed Newtown 6-1, with Dean Ebbe scoring four first-half goals against their fellow Cymru Premier opponents.
Joe Kenton pulled a goal back for Newtown, who had won 2-1 in the league at Park Hall last month, but second-half goals from Danny Redmond (53) and Kurtis Byrne (90) put the icing on an impressive win for Scott Ruscoe’s side.
But it was Ebbe’s day at Park Hall, with the Irish striker giving the Saints the lead after nine minutes. And, having failed to win in any of their three previous league fixtures, Saints manager Ruscoe couldn’t have asked for a better start.
Ebbe’s second came in the 18th-minute and he completed his hat-trick on 31 minutes when he collected the ball on the edge of the box and drilled his shot into the far corner.
Ebbe grabbed his fourth goal seven minutes later to cap an extremely impressive first-half display and give his side a resounding 4-0 lead going into the break.
It was a better start to the second half for Newtown who gave themselves a lifeline with 52 minutes played when Joe Kenton pulled a goal back. However the joy was extremely short-lived as Redmond added the Saints’ fifth after 53 minutes with Byrne completing the rout late on.
On Friday night Caernarfon Town made it three Cymru Premier sides through to the last four after beating Cefn Druids 4-0, with Nathan Peate’s own goal followed by Sion Bradley, Jamie Crowther and Gruffydd John netting for the hosts.
Friday’s other tie between Cymru North pace-setters Flint Town United and Prestatyn Town was postponed because of bad weather. That tie has been rescheduled for Tuesday night.
