Magnificent Mold give manager Mike perfect send-off by lifting WBS League Cup

WELSH BLOOD SERVICE CYMRU NORTH LEAGUE CUP FINAL 2023-24

Briton Ferry Llansawel 2 (Bowen 18 pen & 89)
Mold Alex 4 (Warren 12 & 33; Nash 63, Roberts 73)

Mike Cunningham signed off eight great years as Mold manager in style by lifting the WBS League Cup with a magnificent victory over Cymru South champions Briton Ferry at Latham Park, Newtown, on Saturday evening.

Underdogs Alex, fourth in the Cymru North, clinched the trophy with a Danny Warren double, plus single goals from man of the Match Rhys Nash and Jake Roberts.

Mold took a 12th minute lead when they caught the South Walians napping trying to play the ball out from the back, Roberts supplying a great pass for Warren, who lobbed keeper Rhys Wilson for his 30th goal in all competitions this season.

In the 18th minute Andrew Dyer’s side levelled from a Luke Bowen penalty, awarded for a foul in the box on danger man Corey Hurford by Dafydd Griffith.

Alex’s Roberts hit the post from a deflected free kick before Steve Monk and Mike Cunningham’s side regained the advantage after 33 minutes.

It was route one stuff as goalkeeper Alex Swindell’s long kick out reached Warren, who again got in behind the Ferry defence to loft the ball over the keeper for 2-1.

Half time was reached Mold holding the edge, and the second period was just as exciting.

Ferry were claiming a penalty after Bowen went down in the area on 51 minutes, but referee James Walker waved play on.

In the 63rd minute, magic Mold struck again.

Wilson was almost caught out by a Roberts free kick, but managed to save, however captain Nash was typically following up to score from the rebound.

And the contest was all but over in the 73rd minute when Nash played a sublime ball out to Sam Duffy on the right side of the box and his low drive was turned in by Roberts.

Bowen applied a good finish in the 89th minute to make it 4-2, but this was Mold Alexandra’s day.

Well done to the pride of North Wales and commisserations to Ferry, who have the more than adequate consolation of a Cymru South title and promotion to the Cymru Premier next season to celebrate.

MOLD ALEX

Alex Swindell
Josh Watkin
Steve Watkins (Charlie Davies 90+2)
Ryan Coney
Danny Warren (Eric Durnell 59)
Sam Duffy
Alex Smith (Matthew Lewis 84)
Jake Roberts
Rhys Nash (c)
Dafydd Griffith
Henry Nash