HUW GRIFFITHS ended the season with a smile as Cefn Druids overcame Gresford Athletic 4-1 to win the Newfa Challenge Cup final.

The Ancients have battled both mental and physical fatigue over the last month as the summer's Europa League excursion and fighting against the drop took its toll.

But Druids finished the campaign on a high note as they got the better of their lower league opponents courtesy of goals from man of the match Arek Piskorski (2), Alec Mudimu and Ryan Kershaw.

"We won," declared Griffiths. "Gresford came out and had a right good go at us. We tried a different system, but they worked us out and took the lead. It was disappointing to concede in the manner we did.

"But we changed things around and we had what must have been about 80 per cent possession in the second-half.

"There was very little in the game in the first-half, but once we sussed them out and changed things around at half-time we produced a fantastic performance.

"I thought we looked a bit jaded, which was to be expected after playing on Friday night, but we kept the ball really well in the second-half and I'm delighted with the win."

Josh Hughes, 16, and Kai Jackson made their senior debuts for Druids, who announced that central defender Nathan Peate had signed a deal for next season.

Peate, who made his Wales C debut in the 2-2 draw with England C at Salford last month, was being tracked by other Welsh Premier League sides, but Druids have kept hold of their key man.

"Keeping hold of Nathan is 100 per cent the best news to come out of the weekend," confessed Griffiths, who was also delighted to see Iwan Cartwright extend his stay at The Rock by another 12 months.

"Iwan has come on leaps and bounds this season," added Griffiths, who is busy working hard to tie down the remainder of his squad as well as bring in new signings.

For Gresford it was a case of what might have been after Jordan MacCarter had handed Steve Halliwell's the lead.

Halliwell tweeted: A team run by a top fella in Huw Griffiths, however he’ll be first to admit at 1-1 ht they knew they were in a right game! Really disappointed to lose the game but this is more a credit to our unbelievable committee and our lads who gave absolutely everything!! Roll on 2019/20."

Having had more time to reflect on the 90 minutes, Halliwell later added: "Having lost 4–1 in the NEWFA Cup final, to @CefnDruids a WPL team, and I couldn’t be prouder of everyone involved with @GresfordFC, season over but for a club of our size to be ready to go again in the new tier two structure is amazing!!"