Welsh Cup final: Connah's Quay Nomads 0-3 The New Saints
- Published
The New Saints secured the Welsh Cup and Welsh Premier double for a sixth time
Ryan Brobbel scored twice as Welsh Premier champions The New Saints completed the double with victory over Welsh Cup holders Connah's Quay Nomads.
Greg Draper gave Saints a dream start with the opening goal after seven minutes, before Brobbel's spectacular free-kick extended their lead.
Brobbel's second free-kick in the second half sealed Saints' first Welsh Cup since 2016 - their seventh overall.
Saints have won the Welsh Cup and Welsh Premier six times in the same season.
Nomads, who finished runners-up to Saints in the league, were bidding to retain the trophy which they had won for the first time in their history last season, when they beat Aberystwyth 4-1 in the final.
Andy Morrison's side were appearing in their second final of the season having reached the Irn-Bru Cup final, where they lost 3-1 to Ross County.
Saints had the game's first opportunity within the opening four minutes with Brobbel directing his header wide from Jon Routledge's cross.
Scott Ruscoe's side went ahead three minutes later when top scorer Draper slotted home from six yards after goalkeeper John Danby had parried Adrian Cieslewicz's initial effort.
The Park Hall side had been in control during the early stages, but Nomads responded with Michael Wilde firing wide and Callum Morris having an effort blocked.
But Saints doubled their lead on 33 minutes when Brobbel sent in a superb free-kick from 25 yards out which caught Danby off guard.
Nomads' Michael Bakare tried his luck with a free-kick from the edge of the area which Paul Harrison saved, while the Saints keeper also denied Jamie Insall in first-half stoppage time.
John Disney saw an early second-half effort deflected wide before Brobbel's low shot was palmed away by Danby at the other end.
Brobbel was not to be denied for long and the winger beat Danby with another long range free-kick to secure his side's win and the domestic Welsh double.
Nomads were reduced to 10 men with 10 minutes remaining when substitute Andy Owens received his second yellow card.
New Saints manager Scott Ruscoe told BBC Sport Wales: "It feels brilliant. We won the double of the League and League Cup last year but the Welsh Cup is special. It's the biggest cup in the Welsh domestic environment.
"As soon as we got that one [goal] and then two I had my fingers crossed to see if we could get that third. I said, 'get that third and the game's done'.
"I'm over the moon for the players."
Connah's Quay midfielder Jay Owen said: "We are disappointed to lose 3-0. People will see that we lost 3-0 but it was a close game.
"If we would have scored the chances we had then it could have been a different and we feel we should have had two penalties but the decisions haven't gone our way."
"To concede so early was disappointing but the lads kept their heads up. We're disappointed but it's one of them. We go again."
Connah's Quay Nomads: John Danby, John Disney, George Horan, Danny Harrison, Callum Morris, Michael Wilde, Declan Poole, Danny Holmes, Jay Owen ( Adam Barton 87'), Michael Bakare (Ryan Wignall 46'), Jamie Insall (Andy Owens 69'). Subs not used: Lewis Brass, Rob Hughes
The New Saints: Paul Harrison, Chris Marriott (Joash Nembhard 60'), Blaine Hudson, Jack Bodenham, Jon Routledge, Ryan Brobbel, Greg Draper ( Dean Ebbe 81'), Danny Redmond, Adrian Cieslewicz, Jamie Mullan, Kane Lewis (Simon Spender 74'). Subs not used: Connor Roberts, Kurtis Byrne
Attendance: 1256
Referee:David Morgan