COLWYN Bay’s dream of a first Welsh Cup final appearance was ended by a controversial TNS winning goal in a 1-0 semi-final defeat at Belle Vue on Sunday (March 20)

Had VAR been in use, Danny Davies’ 15th-minute goal for the full-timers could well have been chalked off, as replays showed the ball came off his arm onto his head as he challenged at the far post for a deep in-swinging corner.

But the goal stood and in the end that was enough to take the Cymru Premier champions into a 12th Welsh Cup final.

The Bay, cheered on by another big following, did have chances to equalise.

Kristian Platt headed inches over the bar following a corner in the first half and Ryan Edwards played in James Kirby one-on-one in the second period, only for TNS goalkeeper Connor Roberts to deflect the shot away for a corner.

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Manager Steve Evans, who came on up front in added time in a last throw of the dice, felt his side deserved the chance of a penalty shoot-out.

“Second half, I thought we were fantastic. We were on the front foot and although we didn’t create too many chances they haven’t created too much either,” he said.

“I thought it was a pretty even game and credit to the lads. We had a game plan, we stuck to it and TNS didn’t cause us too many problems.

“I’m gutted for the lads because I thought we deserved a draw and a go at the penalties, but that’s football. Now its all about building for next season.

“The fans were again fantastic and they deserve to have a team in the Welsh Prem. That is our aim.”

The Bay defended stoutly, with Andy Coughlin making a couple of big saves in the first half, and can hold their heads up high for rarely allowing the full-timers to threaten in that second half.

While pleased to get through, Saints' boss Anthony Limbrick was unhappy with the playing surface at Belle Vue.

After the final whistle, he told S4C's Sgorio: "It's been good and we knew what the game was going to be like today.

"I mean, the pitch was very difficult to play on.

"It's no disrespect to Rhyl, at all, but the fact that this can be played on this pitch in a semi-final is unbelievable.

"I can't believe it, but we had to grind it out.

"We had to be tough, we had to be physical.

"We had to show a different side of us again today than I think we've shown in the last few weeks without being able to play our stuff, so credit to the players.

"We knew it wasn't going to be easy, probably people will look at the score and go 1-0, we should be doing better than that, but I would disagree.

"I think they're an excellent side.

"They put it on us for the whole game and we're pleased to get through."