Four different goalscorers, as The New Saints pick up another important win at Maes Tegid

Match Report

https://twitter.com/tnsfc/status/1581261105770512386?s=20&t=pLszBQpuEFGkm2WHFomS0g

Goals: Clark (5), Wilson (16. 54), Daniels (52), McManus (61)
Yellow cards: Warder (84)
Substitutions: D. Williams for Redmond (63), Smith for Clark (74), Brobbel for Cieslewicz (74), Warder for Wilson (81)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Brian Jones

The New Saints put in another strong performance to run out comfortable 5-0 winners against Bala Town this afternoon.

Four different players got their names on the scoresheet, as the JD Cymru Premier champions made it eight consecutive league victories at Maes Tegid.

Connah’s Quay Nomads were also victorious this afternoon, so the lead at the top remains just four points, although The Saints do have a game in hand over their rivals.

It was the perfect start for the visitors, who took the lead with just five minutes played.

Some good link-up play between Adam Wilson and Ben Clark allowed the latter to work the ball into the box, and the number 19 did well to take it around the goalkeeper.

His initial effort was blocked on the line, but the midfielder followed up smartly and bundled home at the second attempt from close-range.

Craig Harrison’s side continued to control things in the early stages, and with 16 minutes on the clock, they were rewarded for their positive start with a second goal.

It was great work from Adrian Cieslewicz down the left to work space for a cross, and his whipped ball towards the back post found the head of Wilson, giving the ex-Newcastle United man an easy finish from close range.

The Saints went close again in the 25th minute thanks to a Jon Routledge volley, before Chris Marriott struck the wall with an edge-of-the-box free-kick five minutes later.

Bala enjoyed a rare forward excursion just a minute before the break and Luke Wall got his shot off inside the box. However, it proved easy for Connor Roberts, and the TNS goalkeeper gathered it comfortably.

Within seconds of the restart, The Saints could’ve put the game to bed when home ‘keeper, Alex Ramsay, dropped the ball at the feet of Clark.

The Lakesiders’ number one quickly recovered though, giving the Academy graduate no time to react.

But Harrison’s team didn’t have to wait too much longer for that third goal to arrive, and it was brought about by more great work from man of the match, Wilson.

His inviting cross from the left picked out Josh Daniels in the middle, and the number seven turned the ball home from a few yards out to put his side firmly in control of the game.

And just two minutes later, Wilson was back amongst the goals himself, smashing a powerful effort into the top corner of the net after cutting inside from the right.

Not to be outdone by his teammates, the JD Cymru Premier’s leading goalscorer, Declan McManus, got in on the act just after the hour mark.

After Daniels was fouled on the edge of the box, the Scottish striker stepped up to take the free-kick, and beat both the wall and goalkeeper with a well-taken strike to extend the lead further.

With the three points effectively in the bag at that point, it gave The Saints’ head coach the opportunity to make a number of changes – four of them in fact.

Despite the introduction of fresh legs, there were no further goals in the final half hour, so 5-0 is how it finished, and The Saints made it eight consecutive JD Cymru Premier wins in the process.

Next up for the league leaders is a home fixture against newly promoted Pontypridd United on Saturday (October 22), as they look to continue their defence of the title with another positive result.