Junior Cup joy on a beautiful day for Bay in 2008/09

Trearddur Bay United 2 (Haigh, Brodie)
St Asaph City 1 (Midgley)
North Wales Coast FA Junior Cup Final – May 2009

It was a tremendous day for Trearddur Bay United when they lifted the Junior Cup at the end of their first-ever season in Saturday football.

The 2-1 win at Denbigh over St Asaph completed a treble that season for the Anglesey League heroes.

And landing the famous cup was one of the major highlights from the four-season management reign of Chris Davies, who scooped 10 trophies in that amazing spell.

With both the Dargie and Thomas and Williams Cups already safely in the locker, the islanders were going for a three-timer in their first season in Saturday football and achieved just that in front of a crowd of more than 200 at Central Park.

First half goals from Barry Haigh and Craig Brodie put Bay in command, and although Duncan Midgley pulled one back for the Clwyd League Division Two side early in the second period, the Anglesey League aces held on for a memorable success.

“It’s been a long hard season and this is a great way to round it off,” said Trearddur manager Davies.

“This was our best performance of the season. St Asaph put us under a lot of pressure in the first half but we defended well and took our chances when they came.”

With the wind at their backs, Saints were a big danger in attack in the first half and went desperately close on seven minutes when Steve Williams’ curling corner came back off the bar.

Trearddur custodian Robert Bentley produced a good point blank stop from Adam Cassidy who shortly after was clean through when beating the offside trap, but the keeper was off his line quickly and did brilliantly to tip his shot over for a corner.

It was against the run of play when Trearddur took a 31st minute lead.

Asaph keeper Alyn Smith made a hash of gathering a through ball from Brodie and the razor-sharp Haigh ran on to stroke into an empty net and claim his 45th goal of the season.

Bay defender Paul Muir was a real hero when he cleared a goalbound shot from Midgley with Bentley for once beaten, but moments later the Anglesey men were 2-0 up.

Brodie was found unmarked in the box and the inspirational midfielder finished well from 10 yards.

After the break Haigh was not too far away with a wind-assisted 40-yarder, but then on 52 minutes the final sprang to life as Saints’ Midgley used his pace and strength to burst into the box and beat Bentley from an angle.

Soon after Asaph should have been level but Williams fired wide from six yards and this proved to be a turning point.

Chances were limited after that, Bentley holding a Williams stinger at the second attempt, while the potent Haigh went close with an overhead kick at the other end.

Tempers flared in the closing stages and several yellow cards were dished out by referee Martin Roberts of Llangefni, who handled the occasion very well.

Trearddur proved worthy winners and defender Ralph Wilkinson was named Player of the Final.

Trearddur Bay: Robert Bentley, Paul Muir (Barry Roberts 76), Chris Devett, Mike Davies, Ralph Wilkinson, Craig Brodie, Carl Hagan, Barry Haigh, Jackie Welsh, Steve Driedyk (Kelvin Jones 89), Ricky Lavelle. Unused subs: Tristan Lee, Dave Hughes, Dave Terrence.