Wrexham retain Premier Cup

Rhyl 1 Wrexham 4

12 May 2004

Wrexham ended Rhyl's trophy run with a dominant display to retain the FAW Premier Cup at Belle Vue on Wednesday.

Rhyl had already won the Welsh Premier title, the Welsh Cup and the Welsh League Cup but this time lost out.

Brian Carey's header gave the Dragons a narrow lead at half-time, but the floodgates opened in the second half.

Paul Barrett stabbed home from close range before Hector Sam struck twice, although Rhyl had the consolation of Andy Moran's right-foot rocket.

As well as the trophy and flying the flag for the Nationwide League over the Welsh Premier, Wrexham will be delighted with the £100,000 winner's cheque that goes with the title, while Rhyl receive £50,000.

This season questions have been asked about Wrexham's financial stability, after players were paid late several times.

The opening 10 minutes was a cagey affair as the two sets of players weighed each other up.

Wrexham had the better of the possession but it was Rhyl who launched the opening salvo, a swift counter-attack ending in Gareth Wilson blazing over the crossbar from distance.

It took another 10 minutes for Wrexham to produce their first shot on goal, and that came from a defender as Dennis Lawrence forayed forward only to produce a weak effort.

The deadlock was broken on the half-hour mark when Carey was first to Darren Ferguson's looping free-kick into the box, then exchanged headers with Steve Roberts before nodding into the net.

Rhyl continued to struggle to defend the visitors' set-pieces, and five minutes later were relieved to see Carey this time head wide from a corner after again failing to pick up the defender.

The danger was starting to come from open play as well, with the Dragons nearly doubling their lead after Carlos Edwards jinked down the right and fired just over the junction of post and crossbar.

Rhyl had an early chance after half-time to get back on level terms, but Timmy Edwards just failed to connect with a free-kick from wide on the left.

That proved even more costly as Barrett doubled Wrexham's lead on 48 minutes.

James Brewerton failed to get enough height on a clearing header and the ball rebounded back into the Rhyl box off Chris Llewellyn - a recent call-up to Mark Hughes' Wales squad.

Paul Smith rushed forward but Barrett was quicker and the Wrexham midfielder popped the ball over the Lilywhites goalkeeper.

Another six minutes and the Dragons were out of sight, Edwards and Llewellyn carving open the Rhyl left flank before Llewellyn fired a low cross that Sam converted to make it 3-0.

Sam struck again on 63 minutes, Thomas winning the ball in midfield and sending his pacey striker clear to curl the ball past the despairing Smith.

Rhyl pulled a goal back 15 minutes from the end when Moran showed why he now has 47 goals to his name this season - pouncing on a knockdown to lash a right-foot shot past Michael Ingham.

Wrexham substitute Chris Armstrong was involved in an unseemly scuffle with Brewerton - both booked for their troubles - as several Rhyl players showed their frustration.

But it failed to spoil the spectacle that provided a fitting end to the Welsh domestic season.