A complete change again
Craig Harrison made ten changes for the Bala Town fixture during the week, and the head coach did the same again for the trip to the capital, as we took on Cardiff Metropolitan University FC. The only player that survived the shuffle was Connor Roberts, meaning that the outfield was totally different on both occasions.
The strength in depth, as far as the squad is concerned, is a comment that we’ve regularly made in this column, and the fact that not only did we beat both opponents 3-1, but we played well, emphasises the point.
With the intensity of fixtures at present, the value of a good squad is extremely important.
Falling behind
Ryan Jenkins’ side weren’t there just to make up the numbers, and that was evident from the start, as they looked to match the visitors on the pitch. Their game plan worked, as they took the lead in the 32nd minute.
A Connor Roberts save was pushed out to an unmarked Tom Vincent, who slotted home to put Cardiff Met 1-0 up. It meant that, for the sixth domestic outing on the bounce, there was to be no clean sheet for the visitors.
Naturally, it was a great disappointment for The New Saints, but the important question was, how would the players react?
A perfect response
Advantage Archers lasted just three minutes, however, when Ryan Brobbel beat Alex Lang to level the score.
And what a goal it was, as the Northern Ireland U-21 international shrugged off several challenges in and around the edge of the box before calmly placing the ball in the back of the net.
You will be able to watch the wonder goal on social media, courtesy of Sgorio.
It went from good to better
Three minutes on from the equaliser and The New Saints were in front for the first time in the game.
It was another excellent goal, not only the strike from Jordan Williams but the tremendous run down the right from Ben Clark. His inch-perfect cross found Williams who smashed the ball home from close-range.
Let’s not forget the fantastic long pass from Josh Daniels either, that set Clark on his way.
From being a goal adrift, just minutes later and the visitors were ahead.
Drama in the final ten minutes
Even though they had surrendered the lead, the Archers didn’t let their heads drop, and they were almost back on level terms when the woodwork came to The New Saints’ rescue. With Connor Roberts beaten, Ryan Reynolds saw his shot come off the post, with ten minutes to go.
The late drama continued when Joel Edwards received a straight red for a challenge on Josh Daniels.
The trio of events in the final minutes of the game was completed, when Jordan Williams’ perfectly-placed shot to the left of the diving Lang, ended up in the back of the net.
Lead image: Brian Jones.
