North East Wales Challenge Cup Final 2025-26: Airbus lift trophy for second successive season

NEWFA CHALLENGE CUP FINAL – MAY 16, 2026

Holywell Town 1 (Mark Winslade 76)

Airbus UK Broughton 4 (Joseph Palmer 17, Danny Warren 34, pen 65, Kieran Evans 84)

Report: Shaun Best

Airbus UK Broughton retained the NEWFA Challenge Cup following a 4-1 win over Holywell Town at the Hollingsworth Group Stadium.

In a repeat of last year’s final, the scoreline almost mirrored that of 12 months ago. Had it not been for a stellar performance by 42-year-old goalkeeper John Danby in the Holywell goal, the winning margin for the Wingmakers could have been far greater.

This latest piece of silverware joins the Welsh Blood Service League Cup in the Airbus trophy cabinet.

Both sides exchanged early efforts, with Danby demonstrating great agility to push clear a Jordan Evans effort, while Holywell’s Ieuan Hewitt ghosted in at the near post to head a corner inches wide.

Airbus hit the front from a set piece. Captain Joseph Palmer met a free kick with a powerful header which Danby initially kept out, but Palmer reacted quickest to sweep the rebound in while Danby was still on the floor.

The Holywell shot stopper rolled back the years when he thwarted Danny Warren twice in a matter of seconds from close range.

Warren then pulled back for Sam Rickett to drill a low effort goalwards, only for Danby to get down and block.

A second Airbus goal looked inevitable and it eventually came from another free kick. Danby couldn’t hold onto an Evans effort and, with Holywell slow to react to the second ball, Warren blasted the rebound into the net from close range.

Warren showed great vision to put Kaiden Cooke clear, but Danby once again scampered out to narrow the angle and block with both hands.

Holywell lost Joe Sullivan to a foot injury minutes after the restart, then relied on Danby to keep out another one-on-one effort from Evans.

The next goal was going to be crucial and it arrived just after the hour mark. Holywell’s Jake Cooke clumsily tripped Mason Blackwell-Jones in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Warren sent Danby the wrong way as he coolly slotted in the penalty.

Craig Lindfield wasted a golden opportunity to pull a goal back when he snatched at a chance in the box and saw his effort roll wide.

Warren was then denied a hat-trick when his close range missile smacked the underside of the bar, before a late flag from the linesman came to Holywell’s rescue.

Substitute Mark Winslade gave Holywell a way back into the game when he curled his effort beyond Keighan Jones from inside the box. However, Airbus were unfazed and continued to pour forwards.

Danby fisted clear an effort from Evans which was heading towards the top corner, but the veteran was powerless to prevent the next attack. Kieran Evans cut inside and rifled in a fourth goal to settle the result and cap a productive season for the Wingmakers.

Both Saturday’s finalists can now look forward to spending the 2026-27 season in the top-flight JD Cymru Premier.

NEWFA CHALLENGE CUP LIST OF WINNERS

1969-70 Brymbo SW
1970-71 Brymbo SW
1971-72 Bala Town
1972-73 Gresford Athletic
1973-74 Llangollen
1974-75 Buckley Rovers
1975-76 Rhosddu
1976-77 Llay Welfare
1977-78 Cefn Albion
1978-79 Sunblest United
1979-80 Buckley Town
1980-81 Buckley Town
1981-82 Brymbo SW
1982-83 Brymbo SW
1983-84 Llay R.B.L.
1984-85 Brymbo SW
1985-86 Mold Alex
1986-87 Mold Alex
1987-88 Mold Alex
1988-89 Lex Xl
1989-90 Llay RBL
1990-91 Lex Xl
1991-92 Gresford Athletic
1992-93 Cefn Druids
1993-94 Wrexham AFC
1994-95 Wrexham AFC
1995-96 Brymbo
1996-97 Rhostyllen Villa
1997-98 Wrexham AFC
1998-99 Flexsys Cefn Druids
1999-2000 Oswestry Town
2000-01 Buckley Town
2001-02 Buckley Town
2002-03 Buckley Town
2003-04 Bala Town
2004-05 Buckley Town
2005-06 Buckley Town
2006-07 Bala Town
2007-08 Bala Town
2008-09 Lex Xl
2009-10 Buckley Town
2010-11 Rhos Aelwyd
2011-12 Cefn Druids
2012-13 Buckley Town
2013-14 Cefn Druids
2014-15 Mold Alexandra
2015-16 Cefn Druids
2016-17 Gresford Athletic
2017-18 Ruthin Town
2018-19 Cefn Druids
2019-20 Competition incomplete (Covid-19)
2020-21 Competition cancelled (Covid-19)
2021-22 Ruthin Town
2022-23 Holywell Town
2023-24 Flint Mountain
2024-25 Airbus UK Broughton
2025-26 Airbus UK Broughton

TOTAL WINS

9 – Buckley Town

6 – Brymbo, Cefn Druids

4 – Bala Town, Mold Alexandra

3 – Wrexham, Lex XI, Gresford Athletic

2 – Airbus UK Broughton, Ruthin Town, Llay RBL

1 – Rhos Aelwyd, Llangollen, Llay Welfare, Buckley Rovers, Rhosddu, Cefn Albion, Sunblest United, Rhostyllen Villa, Oswestry Town, Holywell Town, Flint Mountain