The New Saints 0-0 KF Shkëndija: match report

Match Report

https://twitter.com/tnsfc/status/1942632475206848883

Yellow cards: Corness (40) Clark (88), Redmond (88)
Substitutions: Craig for Smith (45+2), Marshall for D. Williams (74), Oteh for Wilson (74), Clark for Corness (74), Charles for Holden (80)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Sam Eaden/FAW

It’s all to play for in next week’s second leg, as The New Saints and KF Shkëndija played out a 0-0 draw in tonight’s UEFA Champions League first qualifying round tie.

Despite the lack of goals, there were plenty of chances at Park Hall, with opportunities for both sides to snatch the victory throughout the contest.

The best chance of the game arguably fell to Ben Wilson, who was denied by visiting goalkeeper Baboucarr Gaye midway through the second-half, while Danny Redmond came to his side’s rescue at the other end, clearing the ball off the line twice.

It was a good start from Craig Harrison’s side, and with just four minutes on the clock, they almost made the breakthrough courtesy of Ben Wilson.

Meeting Rory Holden’s cross with his head, the former Airdrie man failed to hit the target though, and the ball went behind for a goalkick.

Five minutes later, Holden was involved again, this time seeing an effort from inside the penalty area deflected behind for a corner.

Down the other end, Shkendija had their first chance of the night with 16 minutes played, but Nathan Shepperd made a comfortable save to deny Fabrice Tamba.

Then, in the 25th minute, it was Jordan Williams’ turn to try his luck, but after receiving the ball on the edge of the six-yard box after some good vision from Dominic Corness, failed to to keep his effort down.

Five minutes before the break, Corness thought he’d won his side a penalty as he went down under challenge inside the penalty area. Referee Rob Hennessy wasn’t convinced, however, and booked the former Liverpool man for a dive, before awarding the visitors a free-kick.

Danny Redmond came to his side’s rescue less than 60 seconds later, pulling off a last-ditch goal-saving challenge on the line to prevent Liridon Latifi’s effort from finding the back of the net.

Four minutes after the restart, the North Macedonian champions had another good chance to score the first goal, but Latifi’s header from the edge of the six-yard box was narrowly wide of the far post.

Chances continued to flow at both ends throughout the second-half, and with 58 minutes on the clock, Brobbel failed to hit the target with a volleyed effort from close-range.

Two minutes later, arguably the Saints’ best chance of the night arrived. Jordan Williams capitalised on a defensive mistake before playing in Wilson with a good through ball, but the summer signing was denied by Baboucarr Gaye in the Shkëndija goal.

The visiting goalkeeper pulled off a save to deny a long-range Corness effort in the 65th minute, before another crucial off-the-line clearance from Redmond prevented his side from falling behind in the tie.

With the final quarter of an hour heavily disrupted with substitutions, chances became more sparse as neither side wanting to run the risk of conceding a late goal, and in the end, it proved to be the two sets of defences who came out on top at Park Hall.

It leaves the tie delicately posted ahead of next week’s second leg in Skopje, where the Saints will be looking to avenge their 5-0 2018 defeat against the same opposition at the Toše Proeski National Arena.

Kick-off in the North Macedonian capital is scheduled for 7pm UK time.