The New Saints continue their winning momentum with a 3-1 victory against Caernarfon Town

Match Report

https://twitter.com/tnsfc/status/1975621808616550646

Goals: Brobbel (39), Davies (43), Holden (90+2)
Yellow cards: Jefferies (44), Bodenham (63)
Substitutions: Clark for D. Williams (69), J. Williams for Charles (71), Nadin for Brobbel (71), Astles for Jefferies (88)

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

The New Saints recorded an eighth consecutive victory in all competitions after defeating Caernarfon Town 3-1 at the Go Goodwins Stadium.

After a frustrating start to the game, the league leaders scored twice in the space of four minutes at the end of the opening half to take a comfortable lead into the break.

Rory Holden added his side’s third in the second minute of second-half stoppage time, before Phillip Mooney volleyed home a late consolation for the home side two minutes from time.

Although the visitors were seeing lots of the ball in the early stages of the game, they could find no way through the well-drilled Caernarfon Town defence.

With 20 minutes on the clock, home defender Dominic Smith made an important challenge inside the penalty area, taking the ball away from the feet of Ken Charles as he looked to open the scoring.

Craig Harrison’s side remained on top as the half progressed, but despite their best efforts to make the breakthrough, continued to be frustrated by their hosts.

In the 32nd minute, a header from Danny Davies landed on the roof of the net following a free-kick from Ryan Brobbel, before the Wales C international had another effort pushed behind by the goalkeeper five minutes later.

Six minutes before the interval, however, the defending champions were finally rewarded for all of the attacking pressure.

After a surging run down the left, Rory Holden picked out Brobbel in the centre of the penalty area, and the number eight made no mistake as he volleyed past Hari Thomas to open the scoring.

With the wind in their sails following the opener, Harrison’s side added to their tally again in the 43rd minute to go into the half-time break with a comfortable advantage.

On that occasion, it was a right-sided cross from Dan Williams which reached Davies, and the number 22 side-footed the ball into the bottom corner at the first-time of asking.

Looking for a way back into the game, Caernarfon’s Morgan Owen tried his luck from the edge of the penalty area 10 minutes after the restart, but the effort caused no problems for Nathan Shepperd in the TNS goal.

Down the other end, Thomas came to his side’s rescue on the hour mark, getting down to his right quickly to prevent Charles from finding the back of the net.

Moments later, the Canaries’ goalkeeper made another superb save to deny Charles again, this time from point-blank range after an inviting cross from Davies.

The second-half was heavily disrupted by changes from both teams, so chances were much more limited, but home substitute Charlie Griffith was forced to get back to head an Isaac Jefferies cross off the line in the 81st minute.

In the second of five stoppage time minutes though, Harrison’s side did add a third goal.

A short header from Phillip Mooney allowed substitute Jordan Williams to take the ball around the goalkeeper, but the number 17 selflessly cut back for Holden to finish into the empty net.

But the scoring wasn’t done there. Two minutes later, Mooney redeemed himself in the opposite box, volleying home a late consolation to make the full-time score 3-1 in Llandudno.

The New Saints are back in action this coming Saturday (October 11th), as they welcome Penybont to Park Hall Stadium in a top-of-the-table clash. Due to television coverage, kick-off is scheduled for 5:15pm.