A Win At The Oval Means Another Three JD Cymru Premier Points On The Board For The New Saints

Match Report

Goals: Robles (58, 66), Ebbe (69), Clark (90+3)
Yellow cards: Harrington (4), Holland (50), Boateng (55)
Substitutions: Routledge for Holland (63), Draper for Ebbe (75), Clark for Smith (82)

Match report by Sam Wood

The New Saints made it three wins from three in the JD Cymru Premier this season with a convincing 4-0 win against Caernarfon at The Oval.

After going in goalless at the break, Louis Robles found the net with two great headers, before efforts from Dean Ebbe and Ben Clark capped off a comfortable afternoon on the road for The Saints. 

Another away game is up next for TNS, as Bala Town provide the opposition at Maes Tegid on Wednesday.

It was a high tempo start from Scott Ruscoe’s side, and Chris Marriott caused problems in the middle with a free-kick after just seven minutes. Ryan Harrington brought a good save from Josh Tibbetts moments later, and the other Ryan, Astles, went close with the resulting rebound.

The Saints continued to cause problems for their hosts, with Leo Smith almost taking a cross into his stride inside the box, before Adrian Cieslewicz fired over from the edge of the area.

Astles was involved again with 22 minutes played, firing just the wrong side of the post from a corner, moments before Louis Robles almost connected with a Danny Redmond cross.

And Robles thought he’d opened the scoring just three minutes before the break, heading home a cross from Cieslewicz. The assistant referee raised the offside flag though, meaning the celebrations were brought to a quick halt.

Starting the second period in the same fashion as the first, Ruscoe’s side were on the front foot. There was a scare though with 56 minutes gone, as Mike Hayes raced through and took the ball around Paul Harrison. The goalkeeper did well to avoid fouling the striker, and with Astles back on the goal line, his eventual tame effort was easily cleared.   

However two minutes later, the deadline was finally broken as Louis Robles met a Danny Redmond cross with his head. His connection was an accurate one, diverting the ball powerfully into the bottom corner to give his side a 1-0 lead, and open his account for the season in the process.

And after sitting out the first two matches of the season as the result of a suspension, the number 18 didn’t waste any time in doubling his tally.

Just eight minutes after his first goal, Robles rose highest in the box once more, this time from a Marriott corner, and the deft connection he managed to get on the ball was enough to send it looping over the outstretched arm of Josh Tibbetts and into the back of the net. 2-0.

And with 69 minutes played, the away side made sure of the points with a well-worked third goal.

After a good passing move in the build-up, Cieslewicz played the ball back into the penalty area, where Dean Ebbe was waiting, and the Irish striker made no mistake as he smashed his effort into the back of the net, leaving the goalkeeper no chance. 3-0. 

Still there was no let-up by The Saints and Tibbetts needed to be alert once more as he came rushing out of his goal to deny Robles a hat-trick with 15 minutes to go.

The continuous pressure was eventually rewarded with just seconds to go, as Ben Clark notched his side’s fourth goal of the day. Collecting the ball on the edge of the box, the number 18 turned well and worked space for a shot, before sending a well placed finish into the far side of the goal.