The New Saints on the cusp of the JD Cymru Premier title following a 5-1 victory against Haverfordwest County

Match Report

Goals: D. Davies (21), Oteh (29), Marshall (60), J. Williams (76)
Yellow cards: D. Williams (78)
Substitutions: J. Williams for Wilson (62), Clarke for Oteh (62), Holden for Brobbel (62), Clark for Marshall (71), Bradley for Smith (76)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Craig Thomas/FAW

The New Saints moved to within four points of a record-extending 17th JD Cymru Premier title following a 5-1 victory against Haverfordwest County.

A Luke Tabone own goal in the 19th minute got the scoring underway, before further goals from Danny Davies, Aramide Oteh, Jordan Marshall, and Jordan Williams made it a convincing win for the league leaders. 

Should results elsewhere go their way, The Saints could be crowned champions as soon as Tuesday when they take on Caernarfon Town.

Despite controlling the game in the early stages, The New Saints were made to wait until the 14th minute for their first chance to arrive.

Leo Smith found Danny Davies in space on the right of the six-yard box, but visiting goalkeeper Zac Jones pulled off a smart save to turn the ball behind for a corner.

Five minutes later, however, Craig Harrison’s side did make the breakthrough, as Luke Tabone diverted Adam Wilson’s cross from the right past his own goalkeeper.

Less than two minutes after the opener, the league leaders were on target again. Davies found space in the centre of the Haverfordwest penalty area, before stroking Jordan Marshall’s cross into the side of the net.

In the 29th minute, things got even better for The Saints, as their third goal of the afternoon arrived.

Racing onto the end of Danny Redmond’s 30-yard pass, Aramide Oteh calmly slotted the ball past the outrushing Jones to put his side in firm control of the game.

Four minutes later though, the visitors pulled a goal back against the run of play.

Zac Jones’ drop-kick from his own penalty area reached Owain Jones in the opposite box, and after the Haverfordwest man’s initial effort bounced out off the crossbar, he tapped the rebound home.

Leading 3-1 at the break, Harrison’s side were still in a strong position, and 13 minutes after the restart they could’ve added a fourth.

After controlling Smith’s cross with a good first touch, Ryan Brobbel failed to hit the target with a volley from the edge of the six-yard box though, with the ball comfortably clearing the crossbar.

The fourth TNS goal did finally arrive in the 60th minute, however, as Marshall scored his first for the club.

After stealing the ball on the edge of the box, the former Dundee man beat a couple of visiting defenders inside the penalty area, before his eventual effort was deflected past the goalkeeper.

There was still time for more goals too, and 14 minutes from time, substitute Jordan Williams got in on the act, volleying past Jones from the edge of the box to make the score 5-1 to the defending champions.

With the win, The Saints are on the verge of a record-extending 17th JD Cymru Premier title, and it could be secure as soon as Tuesday should Penybont fail to beat Bala Town later this afternoon.

That match on Tuesday (March 11th) is being played at Park Hall against Caernarfon Town, with kick-off scheduled for 7:45pm.