MATCH OF THE DAY: NEWFA Trophy semi-final – Sychdyn United v Aston Park Rangers

NEWFA TROPHY SEMI-FINAL – APRIL 18, 2026

CPD Sychdyn United 0

Aston Park Rangers 3 (Thomas Barbet 12, Estevao Gomes 56, Jack Fox-Cody 90+1)

Report: Shaun Best

Aston Park Rangers booked their place in the NEWFA Trophy Final after a comprehensive 3-0 victory over CPD Sychdyn United at the Mold Rec.

Aston Park will match up against fellow Division Two side CPD Yr Wyddgrug in the inaugural final. This victory avenged a loss to Sychdyn during the Trophy’s league phase earlier in the season.

Sychdyn struggled to deal with set pieces, as evidenced when a deep Thomas Barbet throw caused chaos in the home box and the ball was cleared off the line.

Barbet then found the net with his next contribution. Sychdyn goalkeeper Nathan Bradbrook punched clear a Rhys Jones corner and Barbet knocked the rebound in from close range.

The hosts responded positively to going a goal down, when Jordan Walker threaded through to put prolific frontman Thomas Mitchell clear. Mitchell’s effort beat Jake Bennion in the visiting net, but not the crossbar.

Mitchell could only watch in dismay as the ball ricocheted off the woodwork with force. Walker then carved out space for himself, only to see Bennion thwart his effort with a well-placed leg.

Set pieces continued to be a problem for Sychdyn to defend. Another Barbet throw wasn’t cleared and substitute Kieran Green’s quick swivel and shot zipped through traffic and smacked the post. Walker saw another chance go begging just before half time when his low header was deflected out wide.

The visitors doubled their lead just short of the hour mark. Estevao Gomes had been a thorn in the Sychdyn side for much of the game, chasing down many a high ball and running at defenders. After collecting a James Redfern pass, the Portuguese teen quickly deceived his marker before sending an angled drive across goal and in off the far post.

A third goal almost followed, but Bradbrook had his wits about him to prevent a Ryan Jones corner creeping in at the near post. At the other end, Bennion blocked Mitchell’s effort at the near post, then a Shay Davies header grazed the top of the crossbar.

Aston Park’s rearguard continued to nullify each Sychdyn attack, before two young substitutes put the gloss on the result in stoppage time.

Lennon Young’s header forced Bradbrook into a save, with Jack Fox-Cody serving as the proverbial ‘fox in the box‘ to put in the rebound.

Man of the Match: Tommy Barbet

A cracking final now awaits in the coming weeks.