HOLDERS END TOWN DREAM OF CUP GLORY
THE New Saints eased into the quarter-finals of the JD Welsh Cup after victory against a hard-working Carmarthen Town side at the LHP Stadium.
Full-time outfit TNS controlled the game from the early stages and could have taken the lead in the seventh minute when Ben Clarke pulled a corner back to the edge of the penalty area and Ryan Brobbel’s effort narrowly went wide of the post.
In the 12th minute TNS striker Jordan Williams picked up the ball 20 yards from goal and struck a low shot which skimmed the post with Lee Idzi at full stretch.
However, five minutes later the same player picked up the ball in a similar position, but this time he found the bottom corner from 25 yards to put TNS a goal up.
The visitors nearly doubled their lead a minute later when a long ball from Christopher Marriott found Jordan Marshall in the box, and he spotted the onrushing Daniel Redmond whose quick control and strike at goal narrowly went over the bar.
A defence-splitting pass from Redmond in the 23rd minute put Ben Clarke through, but his finish narrowly went past the far post. Idzi then stopped Redmond at the near post when he palmed over a shot which was destined for the top corner.
Further chances came before halftime for TNS, Marshall volleying wide from a Dan Davies cross, and Clarke’s shot deflected wide.
Early in the second half Marshall cut inside from the left and unleashed a powerful shot which Idzi tipped onto the crossbar.
Carmarthen slowly came into the game with a series or corners and free-kicks.
Just after the hour mark Jonathan Invernizzi turned away from two midfielders and found Will Rickard running into the box, and he touched the ball to Noah Daley who was body-checked by Marshall, but referee Bryn Markham-jones waved the appeals away.
TNS reasserted themselves and in the 71st minute a corner was flicked back into the box by Williams for Josh Pask to slot past Idzi and double the advantage.
Five minutes later TNS scored their third goal when Marshall’s chipped cross was met at the far post by Daniel Davies to nod in.
Carmarthen manger Mark Aizlewood said: “The lads competed well, and we were still in the game at halftime.
“We should have had a penalty in the second half and were the better team for 25 minutes so I couldn’t ask more from the players.
“I’m very proud of them.”
The Old Gold are back in JD Cymru South action on Friday with an away game at Abergavenny Town (7.30pm).
TEAM: Idzi; Vickers, Jones, Surman, Parsons, Rickard (Richards 81), Dyson, Langley (Gibbings 80), Thomas (Howells 80), Invernizzi, Daley. Subs not used: Craig, Edwards. ATTENDANCE: 242.