Five goals and some impressive statistics
The 5-0 victory against Cardiff Metropolitan University FC means that, in the last four outings, we have scored 22 goals.
Against Cardiff Met (twice), Bala Town and Caernarfon Town – who, of course, have all made the play-off conference split – the average of 5.5 goals per match is certainly impressive.
At Cyncoed yesterday, Dan Williams’ super strike equalled last season’s tally of 112 and Declan McManus’ second of the game beat it.
Now on 115 for the season, the goal difference is plus-97. With one league fixture remaining, although it will be a tough one, will the team reach a three-figure total come the end of the JD Cymru Premier season?
Still close at the break
Although looking back we have the benefit of the big picture, at the break there was just the one goal that separated the sides, and there was still everything to play for.
In fact, it was the Archers who could have taken the lead in the early exchanges.
With less than two minutes of play on the clock, it was only a superb block from Ash Baker that prevented Brandon Roberts from breaking the deadlock.
Declan McManus’ goal gave the champions the lead, but as the players made their way to the dressing room at half-time, Cardiff Met were still in the game.
No natural central defenders on the pitch
Picking up an injury early on, in the 8th minute Blaine Hudson was replaced by Jordan Williams. The latter took up his usual attacking role, while Craig Harrison shuffled the pack at the back.
Bearing in mind that although he is an excellent centre-half – and played there in the early days of his footballing career – Chris Marriott’s usual position is left-back.
Joined by Ash Baker for the remainder of the game, it meant that The New Saints competed with two full-backs at the heart of the defence.
You wouldn’t have thought so though, as both looked as comfortable there as they do when on their respective flanks.
First clean sheet in four games
Although there will naturally be lots of talk about the goals – and righty so – with a brace from Declan McManus, Jared Harlock getting his first for the club and two fantastic strikes from Leo Smith and Dan Williams, it was also good to get back to a clean sheet.
Having conceded five in the previous four games, that was one run which everyone will be happy to see the back of.
The standards and expectations among the players are so high, that not only do they want to win every game in style, but they also want clean sheets in the process.
Perfect symmetry?
There are two games left and both of them are massive for The New Saints. Next week, as we wrap up our JD Cymru Premier season, we will be looking to make it an unbeaten campaign and then the following Sunday in the JD Welsh Cup final, it will determine whether we end 2023/2024 with a domestic double or treble to our name.
Both games are against Connah’s Quay Nomads and we sign off where we began back in August of last year.
Our domestic season got underway with a cup win (2-1 in the Nathaniel MG Cup) against the Nomads, followed by a league victory (6-2) a few days later.
With a cup-league-league-cup pattern against the same opponent, you can’t get any more of a perfect symmetry than that.
However, will it be perfect as far as the results are concerned? Time will tell.
Lead image: CIAC Images/Carl Robertson.
