Meet ‘Dai Canio’, Welsh Football’s Overnight Hero

Rhodri Evans

It was a goal good enough to win the Champions League Final, let alone the 2024 Welsh Cup Final.

A sparky final, contested by Connah’s Quay Nomads and The New Saints, was winding down as players started to play for halftime.

Josh Williams, though, had other ideas.

“I don’t even know what it was! I’d call it a scissor kick,” said the Nomads midfielder.

Not quite a bicycle kick, certainly not an overhead kick, Williams’ description is about right, with one fan dubbing the scorer ‘Dai Canio’.

Similar to the former Italy great’s remarkable effort for West Ham against Wimbledon way back in 2000 – four years before Williams was born, no less – the ball drops for the midfielder just inside the area and sits up perfectly to be hit.

“I gave it a good swing and thankfully it went in,” said Williams.

Thankfully, indeed, as that stunning goal would end up being the winner for Connah’s Quay, who won their second Welsh Cup on Sunday with a 2-1 victory over The New Saints.

Harry Franklin opened the scoring for the Nomads before Ashley Baker’s equaliser for TNS.

Then, in the 40th minute, 19-year-old Williams stole the show as the Nomads won the Cup for the first time since 2018.

Cup holders The New Saints were aiming to complete a fourth domestic treble having won the JD Cymru Premier and Nathaniel MG Cup earlier this season.

Connah’s Quay were the last team to beat TNS in the Welsh Cup, defeating them at the quarter finals stage on their way to their first Cup win in 2018.

“I’ve come through the academy [at Connah’s Quay] and you dream of getting these kind of moments,” he said to Sportin Wales.

“To get to score the winner in the cup final for your club, the club I’ve been at since eight years old, it’s a surreal feeling. Crazy, really.”

Previous to this victory, Connah’s Quay had failed to beat TNS in all five encounters this season. However, a 2-0 defeat, with both New Saints goals scored in second half added time, gave Williams and his team a confidence boost ahead of the final.

“The 2-0 defeat the week before was actually a good game for us,” he explained.

“We took a lot from that game because of the chances we created and how well we defended up until the last minutes.

“We said to each other ‘the chances we missed this week, will go in next week’ and thankfully they did.

“It’s been a tough year against TNS and they were always going to give us a tough game. But in a one off final, anything can happen.”

Williams credits a lot of this season’s success to his manager, Neil Gibson, who has entrusted him with a great role in the side as the season has gone on.

“Obviously, getting all the opportunities I have from Gibbo and the club have led up to this moment: scoring in the cup final,” he added.

“When Gibbo came in [in 2022], to be honest, I was a bit reluctant because I had to gain the trust of another manager.

“But straight away he sat me and my dad down and said ‘by this time next year, you’ll play 25 games’. He stuck to his word and gave me opportunities and a platform to play and now I think I have 50 starts for the club.

“That was huge for me, it really gave me a massive boost. I couldn’t really have done it without him.”

Williams is also keen to credit his teammates who have ended their up-and-down season on a massive high.

“We had a great night!” said Williams.

“We started the season, as a group of players and the staff, with the aim for getting second place [in the Cymru Premier] and a cup win.

“To be able to achieve that is massive for us as a group. All the hard work you put in throughout the season, training everyday, playing tough games, travelling down south all the time, this win has made up for it all.

“I have to give the players on my team all the credit in the world, because without them I wouldn’t be playing here and getting these great results.”

With their second place finish secured last weekend, the Nomads’ fans can look forward to another season of European football at Cae-y-Castell.

“To play in Europe is kind of the whole reason we work so hard in the Cymru Premier,” he added.

“The opportunity to play in the Europa Conference League again is huge. Last year, I played my first game in Europe on my birthday so that was pretty special.”

Looking forward, Williams’ clearly has a bright future ahead of him. Not a week on from his stunning winner, he has been linked to beaten finalists, The New Saints, as well as clubs in the English League One and Two.

Williams, though, has just one goal in mind.

“I want to be a full-time professional footballer,” he said.

“I think that’s the aim of everyone playing football who isn’t there yet. I’m in no rush just yet. I’ve got a lot of time so I’m just focusing on preparing for Europe at the moment.

“Who’s knows, though. None of us can predict the future.”

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