Current holders The New Saints will look to defend their trophy against Bala Town in this year’s JD Welsh Cup final.
Six-time winners TNS left it late before eventually running out comfortable winners in their semi-final against Connah’s Quay on Saturday.
In the second tie of the day, Bala Town reached their first ever final at the expense of Caernarfon Town after coming back from a goal down against the Cymru Alliance side.
TNS are now a step closer to completing another clean sweep of domestic trophies, while Bala Town’s final appearance guarantees them a return to European football this summer.
TNS were recently beaten by Connah’s Quay in the Welsh Premier League and it was the Nomads who had the best of the opening chances.
Former Saints captain Kai Edwards squandered a gilt-edged chance against his former club, before Nomads’ midfielder Jay Owen fired against the crossbar.
In the second half, Connah’s Quay again threatened to take the advantage but Mike Wilde, another ex-TNS man, was unable to connect with Les Davies’ flighted cross.
Goalkeeper John Danby denied TNS the perfect opportunity to take the lead when he saved Chris Seargeant’s penalty, but the Nomads would soon pay the price for their missed chances when Adrian Cieslewicz and Aeron Edwards scored within minutes apart to ruthlessly fire the Saints into a two-goal lead.
In-form winger Jamie Mullan sealed the game with a third for TNS putting the game out of reach of Connah’s Quay, who will now concentrate their efforts on securing an automatic European place in the league.
In Rhyl, well supported Caernarfon Town were left heartbroken after a late collapse to Bala Town.
An upset appeared to be on the cards when Bala defender Stuart J. Jones turned the ball in his own net midway through the first-half as the Cofis started strongly with Jamie Breese and Nathan Craig also threatening.
Caernarfon might have felt that they should have had a man advantage on the stroke of half-time. A strong challenge from Chris Venables, in which he uncharacteristically appeared to lead with an elbow, only warranted a yellow card from referee Nick Pratt.
There was little indication of the difference in leagues between the two sides as Cymru Alliance Caernarfon were equal to Colin Caton’s high-flying Welsh Premier Lakesiders.
And Bala were required to search hard for the character and determination which Caton has alluded to in previous weeks.
Bala were able to call upon fit-again Lee Hunt for the second-period and the veteran marksman made his presence count when he broke through the Caernarfon defence to level.
The equalising goal galvanised Bala and Caernarfon’s Welsh Cup hopes were left in tatters when Kieran Smith’s 89th minute strike found its way past Alex Ramsay.
Stunned Caernarfon would concede again a minute later, Anthony Stephens low cross left Hunt with a simple tap-in to claim his second of the afternoon.
Bangor City will host this year’s the 2017 JD Welsh Cup final on 30 April.
Featured image courtesy of Bala Town FC