The New Saints make it seven wins in a row with victory over Airbus UK Broughton

Match Report

https://twitter.com/tnsfc/status/2098474345962062156?s=20

Goals: D. Williams (30), Holden (39)
Red cards: Craig Harrison (during half-time)
Substitutions: J. Williams for Holden (72), Smith for Corness (72), Young for Hughes (77)

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

A 2-0 victory against Airbus UK Broughton made it seven consecutive Novira Cymru Premier victories for The New Saints.

Both goals came in the first half, with Dan Williams first on target, before Rory Holden doubled the champions’ advantage.

Chances proved more difficult to come by in the second period, with some strong Airbus defending preventing Craig Harrison’s side from extending their margin of victory.

It was a good start from the league leaders, and they had a couple of half-chances in the early stages of the game.

Airbus goalkeeper Louis Fallon wasn’t tested until the 11th minute, however, when he got down quickly to his right to keep out Dan Williams’ powerful strike.

The newly-promoted side grew into the match though and began to fashion chances of their own.

With 16 minutes on the clock, George Peers tried his luck from distance, but his effort took a deflection off a TNS defender and went behind for a corner.

It continued to be an evenly-matched contest, but The New Saints finally found the go-ahead goal with half an hour gone.

After a corner from Dominic Corness caused problems for the Airbus defence, Dan Williams reacted quickest on the edge of the six-yard box, getting a toe to the loose ball to divert it past the goalkeeper.

It wasn’t long either before the Saints were celebrating a second goal of the night.

After Danny Davies’ strike was parried by the goalkeeper, the ball dropped fortuitously for Rory Holden at the back post, and the midfielder volleyed home at the first time of asking to send his side in at the break with a 2-0 lead.

Things took a while to get going again following the restart, although it continued to be the visitors enjoying the lion’s share of possession.

In the 58th minute, Williams had the first chance of the second half, but the former Swansea City man failed to test the goalkeeper with his first-time left-footed effort.

With 18 minutes to go, Mark Allen’s side had a good chance to get themselves back into the match, but after a good cross from the left, Jordan Evans failed to hit the target with his volleyed effort from the edge of the six-yard box.

In the 82nd minute, Williams almost had a second after Ben Wilson’s free kick deflected kindly into his path. He was forced to take the shot on quickly, but Fallon came to his side’s rescue with a superb one-handed save.

In the 86th minute, the home side thought they’d been awarded a penalty following a challenge by Dynel Simeu on Kaiden Cooke. Referee Nick Pratt initially awarded the penalty, but the decision was eventually overturned following a lengthy VAR review and a trip to the pitchside monitor.

The remaining time elapsed without incident, meaning it ended 2-0 at The Hollingsworth Group Stadium – the Saints’ seventh consecutive victory which maintained their one-point advantage at the top of the table.

The New Saints are back in Novira Cymru Premier action this coming Tuesday (September 15th) when they host Flint Town United. Kick-off at Park Hall is scheduled for 7:45pm.