PURE SWANSEA: Clinical Trethomas end Pure’s Welsh Cup run at Swansea Bay Sports Park

Pure Swansea are out of the FAW Welsh Cup after a 3-2 first-round defeat to Cymru South rivals Trethomas Bluebirds at Swansea Bay Sports Park.

Bradley Gibbings scored for a much-changed home side and substitute Casey Coughlin added a late second, but three clinical Trethomas finishes sent the Cardiff-based visitors through to round two.

It was the first defeat of the season for Jack Midwinter’s leaders, who made multiple changes from the last match to hand game time to squad players, with a top-of-the-table trip to second-placed Aberystwyth Town to come in the league on Friday.

Trethomas’ Portuguese winger Norton Ferreira opened the scoring against the run of play in the early stages, firing in from the right.

Pure hit back through the in-form Gibbings, who levelled with a clinical finish after a defence-splitting ball had cut the Trethomas backline open.

But a moment of quality restored the visitors’ lead, Oisin Rees’ curling free kick leaving debutant goalkeeper Charlie Clarke with no chance.

A decisive third

With Pure pushing for a second equaliser, Trethomas landed the decisive blow on the counter, winger Jay Thomas bending an effort into the top corner.

Pure fought back and top scorer Coughlin, on from the bench, pulled one back with a close-range finish late on, but it was not enough to prevent a narrow exit.

Jordan Lloyd-Evans was named man of the match for the hosts despite the defeat.

‘Not our night’

Midwinter, who had rotated his side, said the changes were the right call even in defeat.

“It was a relatively easy selection in all honesty. We’ve got a squad for a reason, and we needed to get players minutes in their legs,” he said.

“You saw in the second half when we made the change, with the regular players coming back, we were a bit more consistent, there was a bit more of a connection.

“Trethomas are no pushover, they’re an established team in this league now, so it’s just something we need to learn from. It’s the first pick-up from a loss this season for us.”

The Pure boss refused to blame the conditions.

“It was difficult for both teams, so the weather is not an excuse we can rely on. The pitch was lovely, so we could play football,” he said.

“It was just not our night, and to be fair to Trethomas, we made a couple of mistakes and they punished us straight away with some clinical finishing.”

A word for the debutant

Midwinter was quick to back young goalkeeper Clarke on his first appearance.

“Charlie Clarke in his first game for us is a young keeper who’s been really patient and he’s done well,” he said.

“Two of the goals come from defensive errors, and one is from a free kick which has gone in the top corner, so the young lad’s done well. Hopefully he takes some confidence into any future games he plays for us.”

Pure return to league action on Friday, when the leaders travel to second-placed Aberystwyth Town at Park Avenue (8pm kick-off). The sides meet again in the league’s reverse fixture, with Trethomas due at Swansea Bay Sports Park on Friday 20 November.

Author

Richard Bond

Swansea-based sports journalist.
Twitter: @RichBond00
Email: RichardBond@swanseabaynews.com