Scott Ruscoe recorded his first piece of silverware as manager as The New Saints triumphed in the League Cup and he has plenty more to look forward to as he looks to make his way in the game as a manager in his own right.
There were was a big role to fill when Craig Harrison moved on from the club last summer and the expectation to continue to challenge on all fronts would’ve been placed firmly on Ruscoe’s shoulders when he stepped into the role.
The club’s annual Champions League qualifying run was a disappointment this season but domestically The New Saints look stronger than ever with the first of four available trophies now ticked off.
It took 64 minutes for the Saints to force the lead at Park Avenue but the game was only ever heading one way prior to Jamie Mullan’s powerful near-post finish.
The New Saints overpowered Cardiff Met right from the opening stages and with the exception of a brief scare when Dan Spencer applied a delightful finish past Paul Harrison, only to correctly be flagged for being off-side, did the Saints’ grip of the game ever look under any real threat.
Even without leading scorer Greg Draper – a shock omission from the line-up through injury – The New Saints produced wave after wave of attack. Alex Darlington leading the line as a make-shift striker was a constant menace with his movement, dropping off and probing from deeper positions leaving Cardiff Met’s defensive duo Bradley Woolridge and Joel Edwards constantly on their toes. Jamie Mullan reigned havoc down the right flank right from the first whistle to the last and it was of no surprise to see Darlington and Mullan combine on what proved to be the decisive goal.
Cardiff Met’s Christian Edwards will look back at another showpiece final with regret. In last season’s Play-Off final he saw his side fall painfully short against Bangor City, 90 minutes away from Europe. On this latest occasion, Cardiff Met will be left to wonder ‘what if?’ knowing that injuries to key players had further handicapped their chances of an upset.
The calibre of their absent players should not be overlooked. Injured trio Eliot Lewis, Charlie Corsby and Adam Roscrow are almost the spine of the Cardiff Met team. Corsby’s absence in midfield was particularly hard felt as Jon Routledge, Aaron Edwards and Tom Holland were able to dominate for The New Saints in the middle of the park.
Christian Edwards might have to lift his team out of another final hangover but in context, he will know his team are as good as anyone else in the JD Welsh Premier League.
Their Cyncoed Campus home serves Cardiff Met with the facilities and expertise to firmly establish themselves as the league’s second team. Bangor City’s attempts to take the next step appear to be held back by concerning rumours off-the-field which refuse to go away and a lack of consistency on it, uncertainty surrounds Connah’s Quay’s long-term ambitions after their main benefactor, Gary Dewhurst, withdrew his heavy support and while Bala Town have firmly cemented themselves in the top-band of teams, they have been unable to separate themselves from that group of clubs and push on with purpose.
There is no reason why this Cardiff Met squad can’t continue to develop and gain experience under the tutelage of Edwards and in time, elevate their sights on a sustained challenge to The New Saints’ unchallenged throne.