The New Saints extend their JD Cymru Premier lead with a 1-0 win at The Oval

Match Report

Goals: McManus (72)
Substitutions: Cieslewicz for D. Williams (56), McManus for Clark (65)

Match report by Sam Wood

Declan McManus made a triumphant return from injury, as he scored the winning goal in a 1-0 win against Caernarfon Town.

Introduced as a substitute in the 65th minute, it took the number nine just seven minutes to make his mark on the game, as he fired home from the edge of the box after a superb vision from Danny Redmond.

The three points at The Oval extend The New Saints’ lead at the top of the JD Cymru Premier to nine points, with just three games to play before the split.

It could’ve been the perfect start for The Saints with just three minutes on the clock, as Danny Davies almost broke the deadlock following a corner.

The number 22 took a stab at the loose ball, but his effort was deflected wide of Josh Tibbetts’ far post.

Craig Harrison’s side continued their relentless pressure in the early stages, and the home side needed their goalkeeper to come to their rescue a few times in the opening quarter.

The Cofi’s number one pulled off a number of smart stops, denying both Adam Wilson and Ryan Astles.

With 28 minutes played, former Canaries man, Leo Smith, tried his luck from distance, but the ball was gathered at the second attempt by the goalkeeper.

It continued to be all TNS throughout the first-half, and five minutes before the break, the league leaders were given a golden chance to open the scoring from the penalty spot.

Adam Wilson was brought down inside the box, and it was Airbus hat-trick hero, Ryan Brobbel, who stepped up.

Tibbetts pulled off a smart stop to deny the Northern Ireland under-21 international though, and the sides went into the break goalless.

It was a quieter start to the second period, and it took a while for the game to get going again following the restart.

In the 55th minute, an effort from Brobbel was deflected behind for a corner, before substitute, Adrian Cieslewicz, fired over the crossbar.

Searching for the all-important go-ahead goal, Harrison turned to his bench once more, giving Declan McManus his first appearance since recovering from a recent injury.

The Scottish striker looked lively from the off, and just three minutes after his introduction, he had an effort headed off the line by a home defender.

With 72 minutes on the clock, the TNS pressure finally paid off, and the change from the TNS boss proved to be inspired.

It was a surging run into the box from Danny Redmond, before the number 10 showed some selfless play to cut the ball back for a teammate.

McManus was waiting on the edge of the area, and the number nine made no mistake as he struck the ball the first time into the far corner of the net.

Following a mistake at the back, there was a chance for The Saints to put the game to bed with five minutes to play, but Tibbetts recovered well to pull off the save.

The impressive Caernarfon stopper was involved yet again with just seconds to go, denying Wilson with a diving effort in what proved to be the game’s final chance.

The win moves The New Saints nine points clear at the top of the JD Cymru Premier, with just three games to go in the season’s first phase.

Next up for the league leaders is a home fixture against Haverfordwest County on Saturday (January 7th).