A Comfortable Night At The Rock, As The New Saints Restore Their Six Point Lead At The Top Of The JD Cymru Premier

Match Report

Goals: Draper (11 [pen], 28, 53), Hudson (45+1)
Yellow cards: Mullan (5), Hudson (45), Routledge (81)
Substitutions: Boateng for Hudson (46), Rees for Cieslewicz (69), Bailey for Redmond (76)

Match report by Sam Wood

Greg Draper bagged a hat-trick on his 150th league start, as The New Saints eased to a 4-0 victory against Cefn Druids at The Rock.

Having made their superiority count in the first-half, taking a 3-0 lead into the break, it was much the same in the second period, as Scott Ruscoe’s side comfortably saw out the match.

It was a win that restored The Saints’ six point lead at the top of the JD Cymru Premier, with a top two clash against Connah’s Quay Nomads next on the agenda.

Scott Ruscoe’s side started the game brightly and saw the majority of possession in the opening stages. With just eight minutes gone, Adrian Cieslewicz cut inside from the left and watched an effort creep narrowly wide of the post.

Just three minutes later though The Saints were in front, thanks to a well taken penalty by Greg Draper. After Danny Redmond was fouled in the box, the New Zealand international stepped up on his 150th start for the club and sent Jones the wrong way, giving his side a well deserved lead in the game.

And with 20 minutes played, Draper could’ve had a second, as he found the back of the net from Cieslewicz’ ball across the box. Despite looking onside, the flag was raised by the assistant referee and the play was brought back for a free-kick.

The number nine wasn’t deterred though and did eventually grab another goal in the 28th minute.

After good work by Dean Ebbe to win the ball back in the middle, he layed it off to Draper, who took advantage of a slip by Druids’ defender Philip Mooney to smash a second goal of the night past Jones.

And just seconds before the half-time whistle, Scott Ruscoe’s team took complete control of the match when Blaine Hudson headed home a third after a pinpoint cross from the left.

There was no let up from The Saints in the second-half, as they continued to control the game following the restart, and with 53 minutes played, Greg Draper made it a 150th league start to remember, as he grabbed his hat-trick.

After a great run to the byline by Cieslewicz, the number 11 pulled the back towards the middle for the expectant Draper, who cooly slotted in his fifth goal of the week and third on the night.

The score could’ve been even bigger in the minutes which followed, as both Ryan Astles and Danny Redmond watched efforts come back off the woodwork.

And although Mike Jones continued to be called into action throughout the second period, making a number of smart saves to deny both Ebbe and Draper, The Saints were unable to add to their tally, and were forced to settle for the 4-0 scoreline on the night.