The New Saints clinch record-extending 18th JD Cymru Premier title with late Davies winner

Match Report

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Goals: Wilson (82) [P], Davies (90+4)
Yellow cards: Craig Harrison (42), Davies (90+5)
Substitutions: Barton for Jefferies (64), Clark for Holden (70), B. Wilson for Brobbel (70)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Nik Mesney/FAW

The New Saints left it late, but snatched a dramatic 2-1 victory against Connah’s Quay Nomads to secure a record-extending 18th JD Cymru Premier title.

It was an end to end game with plenty of chances, but it wasn’t until the 82nd minute when Ben Wilson broke the deadlock from the penalty spot.

Harry Franklin hit back almost immediately for the home side, but former Nomads man Danny Davies pounced in the fourth minute of stoppage time to clinch the victory.

It took a while for the first chance to arrive at the Essity Stadium, but with 14 minutes on the clock, Kit Margetson was called into action for the first time.

The Nomads goalkeeper got down to his left quickly to keep out a powerful Rory Holden strike, before punching the resulting corner to safety.

Craig Harrison’s side had another opportunity to break the deadlock in the 23rd minute when Isaac Jefferies collected the ball from Danny Redmond on the edge of the area.

The former Cardiff City man spun to create space, but sent a curling effort wide of the post, much to the relief of the home defenders.

Down the other end, Rhys Hughes almost opened the scoring for the home side, but his first-time strike from just inside the penalty area was narrowly high of Jack Edwards’ crossbar.

In the 28th minute, TNS took advantage of an underhit Nomads corner to surge forward on the break, but after carrying the ball more than 50 yards, Brobbel was denied by the outstretched foot of Margetson.

The league leaders thought they’d make the breakthrough less than 60 seconds later though when an effort from Rory Holden beat the goalkeeper at the near post.

Despite the Saints players wheeling away in celebration, referee Iwan Griffith disallowed the goal following an offside flag from the assistant.

Although there were plenty of opportunities in the first-half, the sides went in at the break with the scores still level.

The chances continued to flow following the restart, with Jack Bodenham heading wide in the 51st minute following a Brobbel free-kick, and Edwards denying Franklin.

TNS shotstopper Edwards made another important save in the 66th minute, denying Abdi Sharif at close-range after the Somali international created space inside the box with a good piece of skill.

Eleven minutes from time, the home side thought they’d taken the lead when Sharif got on the end of Hughes’ cross and turned the ball towards the goal.

Bodenham was in the right place at the right time to clear the effort off the line, however, and the score remained goalless.

In the 81st minute though, Harrison’s side were given a golden opportunity to finally score the all-important first goal from the penalty spot when Franklin was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the area.

Substitute Ben Wilson stepped up to take it, sending Margetson the wrong way, and making the score 1-0 in favour of the league leaders in the process.

But the TNS celebrations would be quickly cut short, as straight from the kick-off, John Disney’s side grabbed an equaliser.

It was Franklin – the man who conceded the penalty at the other end of the pitch – who got his head to Cook’s cross from the right to finally turn the ball past Edwards.

With time running out, and the match seemingly set to finish level, there was still one final twist, however.

An inviting ball from Redmond reached Danny Davies on the left of the six-yard box, and after setting himself with a superb first touch, the former Connah’s Quay Nomads man smashed a powerful effort into the far corner of the net to seal not just the victory, but also the league title for his side.

It was an entertaining game at the Essity Stadium, but Harrison’s side left the happier of the two with the knowledge that the JD Cymru Premier trophy would be remaining at Park Hall for another 12 months.

With no fixture this weekend, The New Saints return to action a week on Saturday (March 14th), when they travel to Penybont for their latest league fixture.

Kick-off at the DragonBet Stadium is scheduled for 2:30pm.

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