The New Saints make it seven consecutive wins with victory against Barry Town United

Match Report

Goals: D. Davies (29), Baker (31), McManus (45+1), Smith (65)
Yellow cards: Baker (51)
Substitutions: Brobbel for J. Williams (68), Holden for D. Williams (68), Oteh for McManus (78), Bradley for Redmond (78), Wilson for Smith (78)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Lewis Mitchell/FAW

The New Saints made it seven wins from seven after defeating Barry Town United 4-1 at Jenner Park.

Danny Davies, Ash Baker, Declan McManus and Leo Smith were all on target for the defending champions, who also recorded their third win in the space of a week in South Wales.

It took a while for things to get going at Jenner Park, so unusually, neither Connor Roberts or Luc Rees in the goal opposite, were tested inside the opening 20 minutes.

In the 21st minute, there was an opportunity for Ben Clark to break the deadlock, but after receiving the ball from Dan Williams just outside the penalty area, the Academy graduate failed to hit the target with an effort on the turn.

Three minutes later, Ash Baker volleyed over from the edge of the box, before Roberts made a vital save to deny Barry captain, Evan Press, down the other end.

Home goalkeeper, Rees, was called into action for the first time in the 27th minute, as he dived to his right to tip a powerful Declan McManus effort into the side netting.

Just two minutes later though, the game’s opening goal arrived courtesy of Danny Davies. 

After Press failed to deal with Baker’s cross at the back post, the ball dropped kindly for the Wales C international to fire home from the left of the penalty area.

A quick-fire TNS second arrived just two minutes and 15 seconds later, as Baker pounced on the loose ball following Leo Smith’s corner to fire home from the centre of the box.

The Linnets responded well though, and they pulled a goal back with 35 minutes on the clock.

A cross from Robbie Willmott caused problems for The Saints’ defence, and after the ball bounced loose inside the box, it was Danny Davies who made the inadvertent touch to divert past his own goalkeeper. 

Seconds before the half-time break, however, Harrison’s side restored their two-goal advantage, as Declan McManus headed home Danny Redmond’s cross from the edge of the six-yard box.

Following the restart, Clark almost added TNS’ fourth goal in the 57th minute, but Rees pulled off an important save to deny the number 19 from close-range.

Ollie Hulbert then went close for Steve Jenkins’ side at the other end of the pitch, but his header from inside the six-yard box was wide of the post.

With 65 minutes on the clock though, The Saints did find the net again, with Leo Smith sending a strike from the edge of the ‘D’ in off the crossbar.   

With both sides making a large number of changes, the game became disjointed in the latter stages of the second-half, meaning further chances were few and far between.

Declan McManus did have a second goal ruled out for offside in the 78th minute, however, before Roberts denied Ieuan Owen seven minutes from time, but there were no more goals to follow at Jenner Park.

It was The New Saints’ third victory in the space of a week, following 4-2 and 2-1 wins against Aberystwyth Town and  Connah’s Quay Nomads respectively, and keeps them very much in the hunt to retain the JD Cymru Premier title for a fourth consecutive season. 

Harrison’s side make a departure from league action for their next fixture, as they travel to Dublin to face Shamrock Rovers in the UEFA Conference League  this coming Thursday (November 7th).