The New Saints move 15 points clear after dominant display

Match Report

Goals: Brobbel (29, 41), Young (36, 43, 62), Cieslewicz (49), McManus (61), Holden (89)
Yellow cards: Daniels (16)
Substitutions: Cieslewicz for J. Williams (46), Hudson for D. Davies (46), McManus for Brobbel (59), D. Williams for Redmond (59), Routledge for Pask (59)

Match report by Sam Wood

The New Saints put in a dominant performance to defeat 10-man Cardiff Metropolitan University 8-0 at Park Hall.

Brad Young scored a hat-trick on his 21st birthday, while Ryan Brobbel, Adrian Cieslewicz, Declan McManus and Rory Holden also found the back of the net.

The result extends The Saints’ lead at the top of the JD Cymru Premier to 15 points, with one game to go before the league splits.

Josh Daniels had the first chance of the match with four minutes on the clock, but his weak-footed effort after cutting inside was comfortably saved by Alex Lang.

Ten minutes later, Leo Smith then thought he’d opened the scoring when his long-range effort struck the side netting.

In the 28th minute, however, the game burst into life, when former TNS man, Lewis Rees, was shown a straight red card for denying Smith a clear goal-scoring opportunity inside the penalty area.

The Saints were awarded a penalty as a result, and Ryan Brobbel made no mistake from the spot as he sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to break the deadlock.

Things got even better for Craig Harrison’s side in the 36th minute, as Brad Young doubled his side’s advantage.

On his 21st birthday, the number 23 connected with Rory Holden’s cross from the left inside the six-yard box and sent a first-time finish into the back of the net.

The league leaders were really in the mood at that stage, and Ryan Brobbel added his second of the afternoon four minutes before the break from the edge of the penalty area.

Not content with their advantage as it stood, The New Saints sensationally scored a fourth goal just two minutes later.

Young, on the turn inside the box, sent the ball past Lang and into the far corner to score a brace of his own.

Picking up right where they left off following the restart, substitute, Adrian Cieslewicz, added a fifth goal for his side.

There was a touch of fortune about the finish, as the number 11’s cross from the right went straight in off the far post, but it piled more misery on the 10-man Archers.

Continuing their ruthlessness in front of goal, another substitute, Declan McManus, headed home Cieslewicz ’s cross at the back post to make the score 6-0.

McManus then turned provider, as he laid the ball off for Young to complete a superb hat-trick on his 21st birthday and add a seventh goal for his side.

There could’ve been an eighth for the champions in the 75th minute, but Smith watched his strike cannon back out off the right post, before Lang produced a superb save to deny Cieslewicz in the 80th minute.

The Students’ goalkeeper could do nothing to stop Rory Holden from rounding off the scoring two minutes from time, however, as his well-placed strike from the edge of the box nestled into the bottom corner to cap off a fantastic afternoon for the Park Hall team. 

Next up for The New Saints is Nathaniel MG Cup action, as Craig Harrison’s side travel to Guilsfield’s Clos Mytton to play their rearranged semi-final tie.