A comfortable scoreline
The 4-0 victory against Barry Town United was a comfortable three-points in the end but, as Leo Smith commented following the final whistle, not necessarily a comfortable win.
It was just the one goal that separated the sides at the break and, although we extended the lead eight minutes into the second period, it was only late on that the game was finally put beyond the reach of the visitors.
We know all about late goals in games against Barry Town United
Twice in the last four years, Barry Town United have come back from 2-0 down to snatch late dramatic equalisers at Park Hall.
Last season, goals in the 85th and 90+6 minutes earned the visitors a share of the spoils, one of only two 2023/2024 JD Cymru Premier games that we failed to win.
Yesterday, there were two late goals again (84th and 85th minutes) but, on this occasion, they went the way of The New Saints.
A first for Adam Wilson
It was great to see Adam Wilson return to The New Saints recently, on loan from Bradford City, and even better to witness the winger find the back of the net yesterday.
His first goal since moving back to Park Hall, it was the one that extended the lead to 2-0, as he got on the end of a great ball in from Danny Redmond, blasting home at the far post.
Jordan Williams scored the first and fourth goals and Ben Clark the other.
Another clean sheet
With the Linnets failing to score, that means, including two UEFA Conference League games, that we have now gone five matches with conceding a goal.
In the last seven outings, the defence has been beaten on just one occasion, when Flint Town United scored a late goal on August 16.
Fittingly, Connor Roberts was the cover boy for yesterday’s programme.
Thirty not out
Danny Davies knows all about cricket, having previously played for Northamptonshire, and he’d be more than happy with thirty not out next to his name on the scoreboard.
From a football perspective though, thirty consecutive top-flight league wins is a massive achievement for any team.
That’s the exact milestone that The New Saints reached by beating Barry Town United.
Since the 0-0 draw against Bala Town, at Maes Tegid, on September 13 last year, Craig Harrison has seen his side win every single JD Cymru Premier fixture.
