FAW Amateur Trophy Final – second half rally from Town not enough to stave off defeat

FAW AMATEUR TROPHY FINAL 2022-23

Denbigh Town 1 (B Lockley 60)
Trethomas Bluebirds 2 (Loss 22, Rutherford 38)

Report: Ollie Williams

For the first time in seven years the FAW Trophy has slipped from North Wales’ grasp and ended up in southern hands.

Today’s all tier 3 final at Latham Park, Newtown, saw Trethomas Bluebirds of Ardal South West narrowly defeat Ardal North West title hopefuls Denbigh Town.

The result ended Town’s hopes of a treble although they still have an Ardal Northern Cup Final to come as well as the task from their remaining three league games of picking up the seven points they will probably need to finish champions.

Denbigh had last won the Trophy for the only time in 1923-24 when it was known as the Welsh Amateur Cup. Almost 100 years on, it was not to be their day.

On 22 minutes the deadlock was broken. A loose clearance fell to Tomas Rutherford whose miss-hit effort found Charlie Loss and he drilled low and hard into the bottom corner to give Trethomas the lead.

Nathan Brown nearly levelled on 36 minutes when he tried an audacious chip that sailed just wide of the Bluebirds goal.

In the 38th minute Trethomas doubled their advantage. A scramble in the box saw Denbigh again unable to clear and Levi Rees out on the left drove the ball across the face of goal for Rutherford to tap home.

Half-time: Denbigh Town 0-2 Trethomas Bluebirds

Denbigh knew they had to improve after the break and following constant pressure, on the hour a corner from Brown was whipped to the far post where Ben Lockley rose above everyone to head home.

The North Walians were almost level on 63 minutes as Brown’s attempt was tipped away by keeper Gareth Williams.

Craig Rogers fizzed a ball across goal and just wide of the mark, then another Brown free-kick was parried away by Williams, who was making a big difference in the match.

With stoppage time about to come into play Brown had one last opportunity from distance, but his effort was agonisingly wide of the mark.

Dewi Llion’s side would have to be content with a runners-up medal on the day, but focus will quickly shift to Llanrwst United away on Wednesday evening in the Ardal North West, where a win would secure a top two finish and draw the side closer to league leaders Bangor 1876.