Biggest away win of the season edges The New Saints closer to a record-breaking 16th JD Cymru Premier title

Match Report

Goals: Young (2, 34, 49), Cieslewicz (30, 31), Holden (55, 90), Hudson (85)
Yellow cards: Young (72)
Substitutions: Hudson for Pask (28), Baker for D. Davies (66), D. Williams for Redmond (66), McManus for Young (74), Clark for Brobbel (74)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Brian Jones

The New Saints did their title chances no harm whatsoever, as they secured another important three points in an entertaining game against Caernarfon Town.

Craig Harrison’s side were 8-1 victors at The Oval, stretching their winning run to 23 consecutive wins in all competitions, and extended their lead at the top of the JD Cymru Premier in the process.

Just four more points are now needed from the remaining seven matches to see The New Saints crowned champions for a record-breaking 16th time.

The visitors made the perfect start to the game, as they took the lead with less than two minutes on the clock.

Jordan Marshall’s corner from the far side found the head of Brad Young on the edge of the six-yard box, and the number 23 sent a powerful header past the goalkeeper.

The Saints’ lead didn’t last long, however, because Sion Bradley equalised with a goal of the season contender just six minutes later.

Pulling the ball out of the sky with his first touch, the Canaries’ number seven spun on the edge of the penalty area, before beating Connor Roberts with a superb curling effort.

Bradley could’ve scored his second in the 22nd minute with a well-struck free-kick from the left, but it was the team from Park Hall who would eventually go on to score the third goal of the game.

On the half-hour mark, the ball reached Adrian Cieslewicz on the right of the penalty area following a fast counter-attack, and the number 11 beat Lewis Webb at his near post with a powerful strike.

All of a sudden, it was raining goals at The Oval, as the Polish winger added his side’s and TNS’ third less than two minutes later.

The captain for the night was in the right place at the right time to tap home Marshall’s inviting cross from inside the six-yard box, giving his side breathing space at The Oval.

Craig Harrison’s side weren’t done there though, and in the 34th minute of the match, Brad Young found the net again.

Cieslewicz turned provider on that occasion, picking out Young in space a few yards out from goal, and the former Aston Villa man made no mistake as he beat Webb with a first-time finish.

The Saints were back among the goals again with less than four minutes of the second-half played, as Harrison’s side picked up where they left off before the break.

It was more great vision from Cieslewicz to slip the ball to Young inside the penalty area, and the JD Cymru Premier’s leading goalscorer played the ball between the legs of the goalkeeper to complete his hat-trick.

In the 55th minute, the league leaders cemented their position further with the addition of a sixth goal.

Another accurate cross from Marshall found the head of Rory Holden inside the box, allowing the former Port Vale man the opportunity to power a header into the back of the net.

Although the second-half was quieter than the first, there were still opportunities to increase the lead further.

With 82 minutes on the clock, Lewis Webb pulled off a superb double save, first to deny Declan McManus and then Ash Baker, who’d both been introduced off the bench midway through the second period.

Three minutes later, however, The Saints did score their seventh, and it was another substitute, Blaine Hudson, who powered home a header from close-range following a great cross from Holden.

Rounding off a superb display in the final minute of the match, Holden allowed the ball to run across his body, before unleashing a powerful strike into the far corner to make the score 8-1 in favour of the defending champions.

The victory at The Oval increases The Saints’ advantage to 20 points at the top of the table, meaning they now need just four more points to clinch a record-breaking 16th JD Cymru Premier title.

It’s back to Park Hall for the league leaders next weekend, as they host Cardiff Metropolitan University in the televised lunchtime fixture.

The match against the Archers takes place on Saturday, March 2nd, with kick-off scheduled for 12:45pm.