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TNS complete double after winning Welsh Cup

The New Saints FC made it a league and cup double after completing a 2-0 victory against Cefn Druids AFC in the Welsh Cup final at Bangor's Nantporth Stadium.

The New Saints FC celebrate after adding the Welsh Cup to their Welsh Premier League title
The New Saints FC celebrate after adding the Welsh Cup to their Welsh Premier League title ©UEFA.com

Two goals inside the opening quarter-hour ensured The New Saints FC completed a domestic double with a 2-0 victory against Cefn Druids AFC in the Welsh Cup final.

Strikes by Greg Draper and Alex Darlington put the seal on a fantastic season for the Oswestry club, who finished five points ahead of Bangor City FC at the top of the Premier League. It was their sixth Welsh Cup triumph and their first since 2005, when they also won the double.

Despite playing in the Welsh second tier, Druids had claimed the scalps of three top-flight sides – Prestatyn Town FC, Aberystwyth Town FC and Airbus UK Broughton FC – en route to their first appearance in the final for 108 years.

TNS, therefore, knew they could ill afford to treat their opponents lightly and, in a brisk start, quickly found themselves 2-0 ahead. Draper popped up at the far post to head in his 23rd goal of the campaign following a free-kick, though goalkeeper Chris Mullock will be disappointed at allowing the ball to bounce past him. Little more than 60 seconds later Darlington forced in a shot from a difficult angle after Mullock had parried.

It proved a mixed afternoon for Mullock, who made a series of superb saves that encouraged Druids, Wales' oldest team, to pin their opponents back, but ultimately the final proved a bridge too far.

TNS director of football Craig Harrison, who only took charge last December, said: "I'm just glad that we didn't win the treble because where do you go from there? I could not have dreamed about this but the lads have been tremendous. And massive compliments to Cefn Druids, they were fantastic."

 

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