March 28, 2024

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Neville Powell relishing underdog tag and believes his Aberystwyth side can beat Connah’s Quay Nomads in Welsh Cup final showdown

JD Welsh Premier League

Neville Powell believes his side can cause an upset in Sunday’s showdown as Aberystwyth Town face-off against favourites Connah’s Quay Nomads in the JD Welsh Cup final in Newtown.

Powell won the Welsh Cup with Bangor City three years on the spin – in 2008, 2009 and 2010, and is keen to repeat that feat with the Black and Greens come Sunday. But he knows what a tough task it will be against a Connah`s Quay Nomads side who thrashed Bangor 6-1 in the semi-final at the Deeside Stadium.

“We know we are going to be in for a tough game against Connah’s Quay, we’ll be huge underdogs on the day and we are more than happy with that,” he said.

The 54-year-old is pleased to be part of such a proud club and believes a win in the Welsh Cup final could help to alleviate success for the Seasiders and is keen to be part of the club in the foreseeable future.

“I went to Aberystwyth for a reason. They have got good people running the club, and I would like to be part of it for the next five years, and I would like to be part of it for the next five years and bring them the success they deserve, if we win this Welsh Cup, it is just the start” he admitted.

Powell was the manager when the Nomads last reached a Welsh Cup final in 1998, but they went onto lose that game to Bangor City on penalties and alludes to the fact how agonising it was to be that close to tasting Welsh Cup glory with the Flintshire-based outfit.

“We were massive underdogs in that game. It was a fantastic occasion, my first final as a manager and we thought we had it in the bag,” acknowledged Powell.

“I think they’d put the black and white ribbons of Connah’s Quay on the Cup, but they had to take them off. It took weeks to get over it and it was hard to take. Connah’s Quay took a big crowd with them that day and it was a fantastic occasion for the club.”

“I know a lot of people in Connah’s Quay, and they haven’t been in a Welsh Cup final since then, and hopefully there will be people there, who were at the final 20 years ago.”

The experienced Neville is clearly determined to taste success as Aberystwyth’s director of football and believes his players have enough grit and determination to get the job done in the final after beating Newtown in the semi-final at Latham Park.

“When we won that semi-final in Newtown, it was fantastic and it was great to see so many people happy. The players now believe they can go on and win it.”

You can find the full interview here ahead of Sunday’s showdown at Latham Park via Sgorio…

(Featured image: Chris Howells)

 

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