Football - Welsh Cup Fourth Round
Llandudno Junction 0 The New Saints 6
JUNCTION were hoping to be the first ever Welsh Alliance club to progress to the quarter finals of the Welsh Cup but had their hopes dashed by an in form TNS side.
In front of a huge crowd Junction were put to the sword as TNS adapted to the tricky conditions of the Flyover pitch.
TNS forced a succession of early corners and kept the ball well, attacking down both flanks and putting the Junction under tremendous pressure.
It was from an early corner that TNS took the lead when a clearance wasn’t dealt with and a goalmouth scramble enabled SteveAbbott to finish with a fierce shot past Liam Ewing in the junction goal.
TNS struck again when Phil Baker hit a free kick straight at Liam Ewing but the ball somehow managed to squeeze through his legs and into the net.
This signalled a Junction fight-back and Mike Lundstrum found himself out pacing the experienced Steve Evans and hit a rasping shot which the TNS keeper superbly saved diving to his right.
TNS then stepped up a gear and scored two goals just before half time through Chris Seargent after a mazy run from midfielder and then Welsh International Steve Evans who scored from a corner with a glancing header.
Even at 4-0 down the Junction players never gave in to their illustrious opponents and with Junction's fitness levels dropping
TNS added further goals through Abbott and Sargeant to record a 6-0 win.
Manager Shane Cartwright said: “All the players can take heart from this game, I’m really proud on how we applied ourselves throughout the game, we never stopped trying and it has given us fantastic experience against a very good TNS side.
“It was a great day, well organised and enjoyed by a huge crowd who turned up in there hundreds it’s just a shame we didn’t score a goal for them.
"All the players, management and committee members of TNS acted first class and were very professional and complimentary towards Junction and I would like to place on record our thanks to them as I’m sure we’ve made more footballing friends.
Junction this week entertain Holywell Town at The Flyover in the Welsh Alliance with 2.00pm kick-off.