The New Saints 2-0 Guilsfield: Saints win local derby affair over Guilsfield to advance in to the JD Welsh Cup semi-finals
The New Saints secured a 2-0 victory in the quarterfinals at Park Hall Stadium after a 2-0 victory over Guilsfield.
A goal from Jon Routledge and Ben Clark in either half gave The Saints their semi-final passage.
Anthony Limbrick’s team will now either face Bala Town, Penybont or Colwyn Bay in the final four.
It is back to league action next for both teams. The Cymru Premier league leaders are away to Cardiff Met on Saturday 26th of February.
Meanwhile Guilsfield are away to Conwy Borough on the same day.
In the opening minutes of the game, Ash Baker had a double attempt with the first one headed away by a Guils defender and the seconds palmed away by Michael Jones.
Seven minutes in, Ryan Brobbel had an attempt from just outside the 18-yard which deflected wide of the post.
Ten later, Baker passed the ball to Ben Clark in the 18-yard area who got an attempt away in the box which Michael Jones collected.
A minute on, Danny Redmond had an effort in the box which blasted over the crossbar.
In the 24th minute, the Oswestry based side had a goal disallowed. Brobbel whipped a ball into the box that found Blaine Hudson who headed into the net. However, referee Cheryl Foster called a foul due to Hudson having his hands on a Guils’ players back when jumping for the ball.
Three later, Brobbel had a free-kick from 22-yards out that Jones palmed away.
In the 37th minute TNS missed a golden chance. Former Stockport player Jordan Williams missed an open goal from a tight angle 3-yards out.
On the stoke of half-time the home team took the lead. Jon Routledge had an attempt from just inside the box that snuck past Jones bottom-right.
The first effort of the second forty-five didn’t come until the 68th minute. Jolyon Harries took a free-kick from 25-yards out that Connor Roberts stopped.
Three on, and Anthony Limbrick’s team were on the attack once more. Redmond whipped in a ball that found Hudson who had a header in the box that was palmed onto the crossbar by Michael Jones and cleared.
In the 73rd minute, TNS were on the attack once more. Williams had a shot from 20-yards that just went wide of the post.
The 13-time Cymru Premier Champions doubled their lead six minutes later. TNS academy graduate Clark ran through the middle and slotted a ball past Jones’ bottom-right.
A third was nearly scored in the 83rd minute as Hudson had a header cleared off the line from a set-piece.
The New Saints: Connor Roberts, Ryan Astles, Jon Routledge, Ryan Brobbel (Leo Smith 46’), Danny Redmond (Danny Davies 78’), Adrian Cieslewicz, Blaine Hudson, Jordan Williams, Louis Robles, Ben Clark, Ash Baker (Alex Denny 81’).
Goals: Jon Routledge 45+2’, Ben Clark 79’.
Yellow cards: Ash Baker 23’, Ryan Astles 67’.
Guilsfield: Michael Jones, Callum Bromley, Chris Cathrall, Sam Litchfield, Robert James, Spencer Parrish, Aaron Lloyd (George Clifton 84’), Iwan Matthews (Steven Blenkinsop 51’), Jamie Hyne (Jake Cook 66’), Jolyon Harries, Andy Ford.
Yellow cards: Callum Bromley 23’, Iwan Matthews 27’, Jake Cook 81’.
The New Saints head coach Anthony Limbrick:
“Credit to the opposition, they were well organised to the end, physically good and challenged us really well, it was a tough game.
“We got in to the final third quite well, we should have been more clinical and ruthless.
“The players lacked a little bit of quality in that end of the pitch, not just forwards but full-backs, midfielders, and defenders from set plays.
“We could have made it a lot easier by taking our chances earlier in the game, but we showed how serious we were by playing a strong side.”
