CHIRK AAA 0-3 T.N.S.

On a gluepot pitch in Chirk, both clubs finished the match with ten men before The New Saints saw off their local rivals to progress to the semi-finals of the FAW Youth Cup. A waterlogged Treflan pitch resulted in Chirk having home advantage as they aimed to claim their fourth academy scalp of the tournament. But as legs tired on the stick surface it was the young Saints who turned chances into goals to win 3-0. Nathan Prodger opened the scoring on 13 minutes when he quickly latched onto an upfield clearance, before rounding the keeper on the edge of the box to fire into a defenceless net. The early set back did not extinguish the sprits of the youthful 'Colliers' but they were unable to profit from their possession, despite good efforts from Steven Edwards and Dan Hughes. A giant gasp could be heard across the ground, when first Edwards saw his powerful 25 yard strike tipped around the post for a corner by the TNS keeper Jimmy Hayes and then with 10 minutes remaining in the first half, Dan Hughes agonisingly watched his left foot free kick skip off the top of the cross bar. The Saints hit the home side with a killer blow on the stroke of half time, when Prodger leapt up high to flick on a Tyson Eyo forward pass into the feet of the on-running Craig Whitfield, who made no mistake in lobbing the stranded Adam Griffiths from outside the box. The second half continued to be played in the same fashion as the first, with Chirk pressing hard for the goal, but 'cat like' reflexes from Haynes prevented both Joe Roberts and Edwards from pulling a goal back. The poor pitch conditions became increasingly apparent as the game progressed and Prodger even saw an effort cleared off the line when the ball stopped rolling in the heavy mud. However sub Ryan Marriot sealed the game on 77 minutes, when his low drive was helped into the net by the Chirk stopper. Chirk continued to battle for a consolation goal but The Saints defensive line stood strong to deny their valiant efforts. The game finished on a sour note when a final minute scuffle between Marriot and Chirk's Faulkes give the referee no option other than to give both players their marching orders. After the match, Chirk Chairman Mark Holmes said: "We came up against a good team who played some impressive football. However, for a small town we have done really well to get this far in the competition. The lads have done themselves proud and deserve all the adulation they get."