The New Saints break the 100-goal barrier with a 5-0 victory at Latham Park

Match Report

Goals: McManus (6, 44, 57), Cieslewicz (68)
Yellow cards: Marriott (80)
Substitutions: Baker for D. Davies (65), Cieslewicz for Daniels (65), Dafydd for Redmond (65), J. Williams for Pask (81)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Brian Jones

The New Saints broke the 100-goal barrier in the JD Cymru Premier with a 5-0 win against nine-man Newtown.

A Declan McManus hat-trick was the highlight of the show at Latham Park, with Adrian Cieslewicz also scoring for the second consecutive game.

In second-half stoppage time, another substitute, Gwion Dafydd, also found the back of the net, with The Saints making it two consecutive wins as a result.

It took the league leaders just six minutes to break the deadlock, and it was Declan McManus who scored the go-ahead goal.

After some great work from Danny Redmond, who prevented a goal kick, he looked up and whipped the ball across the face of goal.

Scottish striker, McManus was waiting, and fired home at the first time of asking from the edge of the six-yard box.

And just four minutes later, it could’ve been two for The Saints, but Ryan Brobbel could only strike the post following a short backpass from Ryan Sears.

Craig Harrison’s side continued to dominate possession and McManus, looking for a second, tried his luck from distance – goalkeeper, Dave Jones, gathered the ball at the second attempt though. 

There was another opportunity for the champions to extend their advantage in the 34th minute, but a volley from Brobbel was cleared off the line by Robins’ captain, Craig Williams.

Then, four minutes before the break, the 15-time champions were denied by the woodwork once more, with a strike from Redmond cannoning back off the crossbar.

But in the 44th minute, the visitors did eventually extend their advantage, with McManus scoring for a second time.

After a surging run by Josh Pask down the right, the defender cut the ball back towards the centre of the box, giving The Saints’ number nine the opportunity to stroke the ball home.

Minutes later, McManus was close to a first-half hat trick as well, but after beating Dave Jones with a chipped effort, looked to his right to see the offside flag raised.

Following the restart, however, it took McManus just 12 minutes to find his third, with the goal coming from the penalty spot.

It was Josh Daniels who got on the end of another short backpass and proceeded to take the ball around the goalkeeper, before trying his luck from a tight angle.

Half-time substitute, Kieran Mills-Evans, slide in to block the effort, but was deemed to have handled the ball on the line, which resulted in both a red card, and a TNS penalty.

The Saints’ leading goalscorer stepped up and made no mistake from the spot, completing his hat-trick, and grabbing his 24th league goal of the season in superb fashion. 

Harrison’s side took control of things from that point onwards, and substitute, Adrian Cieslewicz, scored his side’s 100th league goal of the season in the 68th minute.

And things got even worse for the Robins 10 minutes later, as they were reduced to nine men when Callum Roberts was shown a second yellow card.

Four minutes from time, McManus had another goal ruled out for offside, before another substitute, Gwion Dafydd, stabbed home a TNS fifth in stoppage time following a scramble in the box.

It was a professional display from the JD Cymru Premier champions, who maintain their 17-point advantage at the top of the table.

Next up for Craig Harrison’s side is a trip to the SDM Glass Stadium and Penybont FC on Saturday, April 8th.