By Matthew Burgess
Defending Cup holders Connah’s Quay reached a third successive Nathaniel MG Cup final after veteran marksman Michael Wilde secured a 2-0 victory over Taffs Well.
Wilde, a three-time winner of the League Cup from previous spells with The New Saints and the Nomads, pounced from close range on Callum Morris’ probing delivery in the 89th minute to seal the Deesiders a deserved win.
Despite early pressure, the hosts were unable to capitalise on a flurry of early chances and it was the Cymru South outfit who came closest to breaking the deadlock when George Horan made a goal line clearance to deny David Lyon.
Connah’s Quay’s quality finally told 11 minutes into the second half however, when Callum Bratley produced a mazy run down the left that saw him slip through the Taff’s Well defence and fire an angled shot into the bottom corner.
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Taffs Well saw the odds further stacked against them when Lyon received his marching orders for a second bookable offence with five minutes remaining.
And they were quickly punished when Wilde broke free to double Connah’s Quay’s lead.
Bala Town stand in the way of a third-straight Nomads Cup victory after seeing off Cymru Premier rivals Cardiff Met at Maes Tegid.
Bala netted either side of half-time to book their first final appearance since 2015 thanks to strikes from Chris Venables and former Welsh international Dave Edwards.
George Newell’s cross sparked chaos inside the Cardiff Met goalmouth allowing Edwards to scramble the ball in four minutes from time, after Venables had given the hosts a slender first half lead.
The Lakesiders will be bidding to lift the Nathaniel MG Cup for the first time when the two sides meet in the New Year.
The venue for this season’s final is yet to be confirmed.
Featured image courtesy of Connah’s Quay
