Flint Town United U19s pulled off an upset in progressing to the quarter finals of the FAW Youth Cup away to The New Saints U19s on Sunday.
A Charlie Hughes hat-trick and Pete Martin goal were enough to give Flint Town a 4-1 victory and send the Welsh Premier Development League leaders out of the competition.
Although Flint Town U19s had inflicted a league defeat upon The New Saints U19s weeks earlier, the result is somewhat surprising considering the Saints home advantage, and strength and skill under Steve Evans’ guidance which has seen them go top of the development league.
Although the game started evenly, Hughes sent Flint ahead with a surging run in the eighth minute ending with a powerful shot into the top of the TNS net.
Saints stayed in the game and made numerous efforts to equalise during the first half, seeing one floated cross go off the woodwork, eventually bringing the score level via a penalty in the 38th minute.
However this scoreline was short lived, with Hughes sealing a brace just before half time after a break from the away side.
The second half was again a well contested game with The New Saints U19s dominating possession at times, but Flint held firm and earned their third goal when Pete Martin used his strength and height to rise high in the TNS area and head the ball in from a Flint free kick.
Despite trailing 3-1 The New Saints stayed in the game and piled pressure on Flint as time began to run out, but Flint sealed victory when Charlie Hughes ran at goal and hit the target to score his third hat trick inside a week.
The result bodes well for the Silkmen, who have had 27 players from junior and academy sections to graduate into the Huws Gray Alliance level first team in recent years.
Following the game, Flint Town manager Adam Bailey said:
“The lads were brilliant today. The effort they put in from the first minute to last was unbelievable. We had a game plan which the lads stuck to, right from the first minute to last. I told them before the game if we defended properly, that we would win today because I strongly believe with the front four we had today, we can always score goals.
The two centre backs, Alex and Peter were outstanding. They defended like proper centre backs today and marshalled the team. A special mention must go to Charlie Hughes as well, three hat-tricks in a week at the age of 16. He is unplayable at the moment. Credit to all the lads though. They put everything into that performance. I am proud of them all.”
You can find all the results from the weekend’s FAW Youth Cup games below, along with the quarter final draw.
Results
Bangor 4-1 Airbus UK
Merthyr Town 6-1 Ammanford Town
Newtown 4-1 Ton Pentre
Swansea City 3-0 Cardiff City
Cambrian & Clydach 3-0 Llanelli Town
Llandudno 5-1 Brickfield Rangers
The New Saints 1-4 Flint Town United
Quarter Final Draw:
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