The New Saints v Connah’s Quay | Sunday – 16:00
(Rodney Parade, Newport)
For the second year in a row The New Saints will face Connah’s Quay in the JD Welsh Cup final at Rodney Parade, Newport.
The Saints had gone on a run of 53 domestic games without defeat before last year’s final, therefore it was a quite a shock when Connah’s Quay won 2-1, preventing the Oswestry outfit from completing the treble.
The Saints haven’t had it as easy in the league this year, losing six games in the JD Cymru Premier for the first time since the 2019/20 season when they finished second behind Connah’s Quay.
However, the Saints have won the championship, finishing the season 14 points clear of the rest, and Craig Harrison’s crew can complete the domestic treble for the first time since the 2015/16 season if they defeat the Nomads in the final on Sunday.
The campaign so far
The teams have only met twice this season, which is unusually low considering that the clubs met 11 times over the previous two seasons.
The New Saints won both league games between the clubs in the first phase of the season, with Declan McManus and Ben Clark scoring late on to take all three points at the Essity Stadium in October (CQ 1-2 TNS).
And it also ended 2-1 on New Year’s Eve with Ryan Brobbel and Jordan Williams netting for the Saints in the first half, before Jack Kenny saw a red card for the Nomads.
Connah’s Quay failed to reach the top half this season, and after finishing 8th in the table the Nomads will have to win the Welsh Cup if they want to play in Europe this summer.
Managers
After leading Connah’s Quay to Welsh Cup victory at the end of last season, manager Neil Gibson was sacked by the club after just one league game this year.
Billy Paynter was appointed as the new manager, but after leading the Nomads to their worst position for years, Paynter was sacked in mid-April.
It seems that Jay Catton will be at the helm for Connah’s Quay for the final, with John Disney and Jon Hill-Dunt at his side – three experienced men who have experience of winning the Welsh Cup as players or coaches.
As for The New Saints, Craig Harrison has lifted the Welsh Cup on five occasions with the Oswestry side (2011/12, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2022/23).
Almost a decade has passed since The New Saints last completed the domestic treble under Craig Harrison’s guideship, and the man from Gateshead is determined to achieve the feat again this year.
Last year’s final
The three goals came in a 10-minute period during the first half in last year’s final.
Harry Franklin put Connah’s Quay ahead after half an hour, steering in Declan Poole’s cross past Connor Roberts in the goal.
But the Saints were level six minutes later after Ashley Baker headed home from Daniel Redmond’s perfect cross.
The winning goal came five minutes before the break, and it was a sweet volley from the young man Josh Williams – an acrobatic kick that went into the top corner, and a special moment that will remain in the memory of Connah’s Quay fans for years to come.
Head-to-head
Bala Town were the winners of the 2016/17 Welsh Cup, but since then only Connah’s Quay and The New Saints have got their hands on the trophy.
The Nomads have lifted the cup twice – in 2017/18 after beating Aberystwyth 4-1 in the final at Latham Park, and then again in 2023/24 against The New Saints.
In 2022/23 the Saints won 6-0 against Bala Town in the final of the Welsh Cup, which was the biggest victory in a final since 1931.
The New Saints have won the Welsh Cup on nine occasions, and only the Exiles have had more success – Wrexham (23), Cardiff City (22), Swansea City (10).
Since losing against Bala Town in the 2016/17 final, the Saints have played 34 games in the Welsh Cup, winning 32 of those and losing twice against Connah’s Quay.
Connah’s Quay won 2-1 against the Saints in the 2017/18 quarter-final, before the Nomads went on to lift the cup for the first time in their history.
That was the only occasion in the last 12 years that the Saints failed to reach the final of the Welsh Cup.
The New Saints got their revenge the following year, beating the Nomads 3-0 in the 2018/19 final at the Rock with Ryan Brobbel scoring two fortuitous free kicks from distance.
This is the fifth time that Connah’s Quay have reached the final of the Welsh Cup, losing on penalties against Bangor City in 1997/98, beating Aberystwyth Town in 2017/18, losing against TNS in 2018/19, and beating TNS in 2023/24.
The New Saints have played in 14 finals, winning nine and losing on five occasions.
Road to the final
The Saints started their campaign in this competition in style with a remarkable win against Llangollen (16-0), before going on to beat Cardiff Met (1-3), Colwyn Bay (4-1), Airbus UK (5-0) and Cambrian United (0-5) on the road to the final.
The Saints have therefore scored 33 goals in five cup games this season, conceding just twice.
Adam Wilson is the Saints’ top scorer in the competition this season with four goals, and all four came in their first tie against Llangollen back in October.
Connah’s Quay may have had a slightly easier route to the final as they have managed to avoid the top-flight teams until now.
Connah’s Quay have beaten five clubs from the second tier in the competition this season – Guilsfield (5-0), Trefelin (1-2), Mold Alexandra (1-0), Caerau Ely (0-2) and Llanelli Town (2-1).
The Nomads have not lost a Welsh Cup tie since losing 3-2 against Bala Town in the 2022/23 semi-final, going on to win 11 in a row since then.
Ones to watch
Rhys Hughes has been the standout performer for Connah’s Quay in his debut season for the club, scoring 17 goals in all competitions and winning the ‘Goal of the Month’ award twice this year, as well as being shortlisted on two other occasions.
Hughes will be keen to show his talents on Sunday to lift the cup and secure European football for the Nomads this summer.
The Saints’ captain, Daniel Redmond, has had another impressive season, scoring three goals in the JD Welsh Cup, including a wonderful strike against Cambrian United in the semi-final.
Redmond was the player of the match in the 2022/23 Welsh Cup final where he scored one and created several other goals in the 6-0 victory against Bala Town.
And it will be a significant afternoon for The New Saints goalkeeper, Connor Roberts who will play his last game for the club before his retirement at the age of 32.
Roberts joined the Saints in the summer of 2018 and has played every second in the JD Cymru Premier for three consecutive seasons (96 matches).
Roberts has won nine trophies since joining the Saints (including three Welsh Cups) and will be desperate to turn the nine into 10 in his last appearance for the club.
Europe
Several JD Cymru Premier clubs will take a keen interest in this game on Sunday as the result will influence the play-offs and the race to reach Europe.
If The New Saints are to be victorious, then Bridgend will secure their place in Europe as the league runners-up.
A TNS win would also mean that Caernarfon Town and Cardiff Met would meet in the semi-final of the play-off games, and the winners would face Haverfordwest County in the final for the last ticket to Europe.
But if Connah’s Quay were to lift the Welsh Cup, then Bridgend would host Cardiff Met in the play-off semi-finals, and Haverfordwest County would welcome Caernarfon Town.
Bridgend, Cardiff Met and Caernarfon Town have only once qualified for Europe in the past, while Haverfordwest County have also only qualified once in the last 20 years.
The New Saints and Connah’s Quay have much more experience on the European stage, with the Saints having managed to get past the qualifying rounds for the first time ever this year.
Recent form
The New Saints will be clear favourites on Sunday as they have won 17 of their last 18 matches in all competitions.
The Saints have also won eight of their previous nine meetings with Connah’s Quay, with the only defeat coming in the Welsh Cup final last season.
Connah’s Quay had a disappointing end to their league campaign by going three games without a win, losing against Briton Ferry Llansawel and Barry Town United before a 1-1 draw against Aberystwyth Town on the last weekend.
The momentum is on The New Saints’ side, but Connah’s Quay are the Welsh Cup holders, and after causing an upset last season, the Nomads will be keen to repeat the feat once again at Newport on Sunday.
