The New Saints move 10 points clear following victory against Cardiff Met

Match Report

Goals: Clark (38), McManus (45+4, 68), Dafydd (90+1)
Substitutions: D. Williams for Daniels (81), Dafydd for McManus (81), Kirkman for Redmond (88)

Match report by Michael Davies
Lead image: Andrew Donnison

The New Saints made it 12 consecutive wins in the JD Cymru Premier with a 4-0 victory against Cardiff Metropolitan University at Park Hall.

Ben Clark and Gwion Dafydd both found the net, either side of a Declan McManus brace.

The encounter was a one-sided affair throughout, with the defending champions showing their prowess in front of the S4C cameras.

At the time of writing, The Saints move ten points clear at the top of the table, with second-placed Connah’s Quay Nomads set to play their game in hand against Pontypridd United tomorrow.

It was a quiet opening few minutes, and the first shot on goal didn’t arrive until the 18th minute. Ryan Brobbel whipped in a ball that found the head of Ryan Astles, but his header from close range went over the crossbar.

The 14-time Cymru Premier champions had another effort not long after when Brobbel blasted wide from inside the penalty area.

In the 27th minute, Josh Daniels sent in a cross towards Declan McManus, but the Scottish striker’s header from 15-yards out was off target.

Before the half-hour mark, Brobbel had an effort that was deflected wide of the Students’ goal.

With just over ten minutes to go before the break, Danny Redmond tried his luck with a powerful shot, but it was blocked by the Archers’ defence.

Soon after, The Saints’ number 11, Adrian Cieslewicz, had a go at Alex Lang’s goal from 20-yards out, but the visiting goalkeeper managed to gather the ball to preserve his clean sheet.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 38th minute though when Ben Clark set the game alight with a shot from outside the penalty area.

The effort took a wicked deflection on the way through, which helped it find its way past Lang, and into the back of the net.

Craig Harrison’s side could’ve doubled their lead moments later, as Brobbel had a magnificent strike from outside the box. The effort was equalled by a fine save from Lang however.

It was two for the Oswestry-based side in first-half stoppage time. A scramble in the box saw the ball drop to McManus, who bundled it over the line for his side’s second of the game.

Again a quiet start to the second 45, the first chance came just before the hour mark, with Brobbel trying his luck from just outside the box. Lang was alert to the danger though and managed to gather the attempt.

TNS made it three in the 68th minute when McManus sent a powerful header into the back of the net following Ryan Brobbel’s corner.

And in stoppage time, it was four for the home side, as a through ball was played to substitute Gwion Dafydd.

The young 17-year-old forward tucked it into the corner of the goal, rounding off another strong performance for his side.

Craig Harrison’s team are back in action in the JD Welsh Cup third round at Park Hall on Friday night (November 11) against Caernarfon Town.