Ken Charles nets first goal as Saints beat Flint Town United 4-2 at Park Hall

Match Report

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Goals: J. Williams (6), Brobbel (44), B. Wilson (48), Charles (90+1)
Yellow cards: Craig Harrison (28), J. Williams (77), Chris Seargeant (after final whistle)
Substitutions: A. Wilson for Clark (67), Charles for B. Wilson (79), Nadin for Brobbel (79)

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

The New Saints defeated Flint Town United 4-2 at Park Hall to record their fifth consecutive victory in all competitions.

After goals from Jordan Williams, Ryan Brobbel and Ben Wilson had given the league leaders a 3-1 advantage, Darren Stephenson pulled a goal back eight minutes from time to set up a nervy finish at Park Hall.

Summer signing Ken Charles scored his first for the club in stoppage time, however, wrapping up the win, and keeping his side top of the JD Cymru Premier table.

The home side started brightly and it took just six minutes to make the breakthrough at Park Hall.

After a superb flick from Ryan Brobbel, Jordan Williams took the ball into his stride with his chest, before unleashing a superb left-footed volley past the goalkeeper from the edge of the penalty area.

The TNS number 17 continued to look lively in the early stages and had several opportunities to score his second of the night.

Flashing an effort across the face of goal with 10 minutes played, he was then denied by visiting ‘keeper Jack Flint two minutes later.

After soaking up the early pressure, however, the visitors hit back in the 27th minute.

It was a good run from Michael Burke to win his side a corner, and from the resulting set piece, Sidi Fofana smashed home the equaliser after a scramble inside the box.

Both sides enjoyed further chances as the half wore on, with Ben Clark going close for TNS, while Nathan Shepperd got down low to deny Joshua Jones at the other end of the pitch.

Just a minute before the interval, however, Craig Harrison’s side did restore their advantage, as Ryan Brobbel hooked the ball home from close-range after a scramble following Danny Davies’ cross from the left.

The New Saints picked up where they left off three minutes after the restart, with Ben Wilson finding the back of the net for a fourth time in three matches.

Controlling Jordan Williams’ pass from the left, the summer signing spun brilliantly with the ball, before drilling a powerful effort past the goalkeeper to make the score 3-1.

With 61 minutes on the clock, there was a great chance for Wilson to score a second of the night after a great forward pass from Brobbel.

Receiving the ball on the halfway line, the former Airdrieonians man carried the ball into the visitors’ penalty box, but was denied by a good save when one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

Moments later, Brobbel almost helped himself to a second of his own, but his powerful free-kick 25 yards from goal was saved superbly visiting goalkeeper Jack Flint.

Down the other end, there was a let-off for the Saints 13 minutes from time when a powerful strike from Ben Wynne was blocked on the line by his own teammate, Elliott Reeves.

Lee Fowler’s side did reduce the deficit though in the 82nd minute. After a good run down the left by Reeves, he looked up and picked out substitute Darren Stephenson, with the Flint number 34 striking home from inside the six-yard box.

Three minutes later, there was controversy in the TNS penalty area, as the visitors thought they’d also managed to snatch an equaliser.

Captain Harry Owen appeared to bundle the ball over the line following a corner from the left, but referee Mark James disallowed the goal for what he judged to be a foul on goalkeeper Shepperd.

In the first minute of stoppage time though, Harrison’s side put the match to bed, as substitute Ken Charles took advantage of a defensive mistake to race forward and score his first goal since arriving in the summer.

Despite the nervy finish, it was a fifth consecutive victory for the defending champions, who remain top of the JD Cymru Premier table on goal difference. 

Next up for The New Saints, it’s a trip to Bala Town on Friday (September 26th). Kick-off at Maes Tegid is scheduled for 7:45pm.

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