| Venables goal ends the Saints' dreams |
| Sunday 10 April 2011 |
 A CHRIS Venables goal six minutes from time put Llanelli into the final, while ending The New Saints’ dreams of an historic treble.The midfielder broke the deadlock at Park Avenue, pouncing on a stray pass from Jamie Wood to play a one-two with Jordan Follows before beating keeper Paul Harrison from 12 yards. Neither of the Welsh Premier’s two in-form sides had been unable to produce a telling blow, although Kris Thomas spurned a good opening in the first half, firing over at the back post. But the Saints looked more likely to score after the break, with Craig Jones lobbing wide of the target from a long Harrison clearance and then inches wide of a post from a Chris Seargeant corner. But the best chance came shortly before Llanelli's goal, when a Scott Ruscoe cross eluded the Reds' defence only for Jones to sky his six-yard effort over the goal with only keeper Ashley Morris to beat. Veteran Reds' player-manager Andy had been the busiest man on the pitch with a succession of long throws down the line and into the box. TNS had dealt admirably with the threat until they cleared the 44-year-olds' 84th-minute effort only as far as Venables, who settled the contest. Photo: Llanelli's Wyn Thomas looks on as Craig Jones goes close for TNS. |