FLINT MOUNTAIN manager Aden Shannon bragged up the pairing of Mike Hayes and Rob Hughes in the build-up to Saturday’s fourth round clash.

And those words proved to be inspired as both scored in a brilliant 2-1 victory over South Gower after their tie was switched to The New Saints’ Park Hall ground.

Hayes put Flint ahead six minutes before the break and Hughes kept his cool from the spot to put Shannon’s side 2-0 up in the 52nd minute.

But it wasn’t just the scorers who Shannon wanted to praise as his side made history in reaching to the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time.

“The players were immense and all the credit needs to go the players. I’m a very proud manager and I’m absolutely ecstatic,” said Shannon.

“We’re still in all four cups that we entered at the start of the season.

“To make history for the club, for the chairman, the committee, it’s just superb. I’m over the moon.

“They deserve it as a club since the transition of me coming over and trying to build that momentum of going into a little bit of a semi-professional side of things, it’s been great. I’ve had the backing of them all.”

Shannon admitted his side bossed the first half.

“We’ve hit the post, missed a couple of one-on-ones and their keeper’s made a couple of good saves,” added Shannon.

“It was a tough game. The last 20 minutes it was backs-against-the-wall but we defended resolutely and they’ve had one shot and scored.”