Cup Winners

A remarkable and outstanding season for the rookie team of St.Asaph continued with a dream victory in the 12/U Martin Brookes Trophy Cup Final played at the Belle Vue ground home of Rhyl Football Club.
Playing in their first ever final against a much improved Abergele Colts side, St.Asaph started nervously and through a lapse of concentration conceded the first goal 20 minutes into the first half. Straight from the restart, St.Asaph pressured the Colts keeper and where rewarded with an equalising goal from Connor Fisher, placing the ball into the bottom right corner of the net.
Going into half time Geraint Roberts (Manager) knew he had to change St.Asaph's strategy if they were going to become victorious. Straight from the start of the second half St.Asaph began to pass the ball in midfield a lot more confidently through Thomas Montgomery linking with Sam Jones to control this zone.
The pressure of the big occasion for this new side was beginning to tell on the St.Asaph defence by allowing the Colts to break late in the game to score their second crucially ten minutes from time.
Tightening the defensive formation and preventing the Colts from further attacking, Daniel Hopper, Captain, drawing on his playing experience called a man to man marking strategy. James Duke Williams, once again in the right back position played with passion and touch, skilfully timing his interceptions and tackles, whilst Theo Cuddeford on the left defence and Callum Robinson in central defence stood their ground and prevented further breaks by the Colts. This defensive strategy created an offensive drive by the Saints who equalised by star striker Conor Fisher.
Under enormous pressure, Sam Nicholson the Saints goalkeeper stood tall, controlling and dominating his area wisely. St.Asaph once again through Aiden Bell broke through the Colts midfield sprinting down the right side and skilfully passing the ball to Alex Thomas who dribbled into the Colts penalty area to be brought down by the Colts defence to win a penalty. Conor Fisher stepped up to the spot and placed the ball high right into the Colts net for his Cup final hat trick, a wonderful achievement but crucially putting the Saints one up with minutes remaining on the clock. The victory was sealed from another fine run down the right wing by Aiden Bell to pinpoint a cross to Mathew Simmons to slot home the decisive fourth.
Well done St.Asaph a remarkable feat.
Squad : -
Sam Nicholson (Keeper) Daniel Hopper (Capt), Callum Robinson, James Duke Williams, Theo Cuddeford, Alex Thomas, Sam Jones, Thomas Montgomery, Mathew Simmons, Aiden Bell, Conor Fisher. (Sub bench) Callum Ross, Jack Pitt, Ashley Ellis, Ben Rawson, Joseph Geddes, Kyle Durno, Liam Barnett.
Paul Ross, St.Asaph Chairman would like to thank The Rhyl & District Junior Football League, Rhyl Football Club, Presentational Officials, Sponsors, supporters, Abergele Colts and the St.Asaph Management and Junior Squad for an extremely well organised and nail biting afternoon.

Thank You