A five-star performance earns the points at Cyncoed Campus

Match Report

Goals: McManus (27, 75), D. Williams (47), Harlock (85), Smith (89)
Substitutions: J. Williams for Hudson (8), Redmond for Marshall (66), Jones for B. Clark (66), Smith for J. Williams (82), Harlock for Holden (82)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: CIAC Images/Carl Robertson

The New Saints made it four wins from four after defeating Cardiff Met University 5-0 at Cyncoed Campus.

Declan McManus broke the deadlock in the 27th minute, before Dan Williams doubled his side’s advantage less than two minutes into the second-half.

The Scottish striker then headed home a second 15 minutes from time, before further strikes from Jared Harlock and Leo Smith made it a convincing result in the capital.

Craig Harrison’s side are now just one match away from completing the entire JD Cymru Premier campaign without a single defeat, and face Connah’s Quay Nomads in their final league fixture next weekend.

It was almost a dream start for the Archers, as Brandon Roberts connected with Sam Jones’ cross inside the six-yard box with less than two minutes on the clock.

Ash Baker slid in to make a crucial block, however, and the ball bounced behind for a corner.

The league leaders were under pressure in the early stages, and they were dealt a big blow with just seven minutes on the clock when Blaine Hudson was forced off through injury, leaving them without a natural centre-back on the pitch.

Craig Harrison’s side responded well though, with Declan McManus, Jordan Marshall and Ash Baker all testing Alex Lang in the Students’ goal inside the opening 15 minutes.

The Saints began to get a foothold in the game from that point onwards though, and in the 27th minute, their pressure finally told.

From the right of the penalty area, Rory Holden cut the ball back for McManus, and the TNS number nine made no mistake, sending a powerful, first time finish into the back of the net from the edge of the six-yard box.

Despite having to do a lot of defending, Ryan Jenkins’ team did well to restrict The Saints in the closing moments of the half, meaning it was just the one goal separating the sides at the break.

It didn’t take long for that to change following the restart, however, as Dan Williams doubled his side’s advantage with a superb volleyed effort from the edge of the penalty area.

Under pressure, Callum Jenkins failed to deal with the danger, and his headed clearance landed perfectly for the number 14 to strike at the first time of asking to score just his third goal of the season.

Much like the first half, it was all TNS once again in the second, and Craig Harrison’s side continued to pepper the Cardiff Met goal.

In the 57th minute, McManus headed over from the edge of the six-yard box as he looked for a second, before substitute, Tom Jones, went close to a first senior goal with a curling effort from the left of the box.

With 75 minutes on the clock though, McManus did score a second, thanks to a superb cross from Danny Redmond.

From the left, the number 10 produced a pin-point delivery, giving McManus the opportunity to shrug off CJ Craven and power a header into the back of the net.

Five minutes from time, substitute, Jared Harlock got in on the act, heading home his first TNS goal from inside the six-yard box, before Leo Smith rounded off the scoring in the 89th minute, with a powerful strike from the right of the penalty area.

With their win, which was their 25th consecutive in the JD Cymru Premier, The New Saints moved 30 points clear at the top of the table, with just one game left to play.

Harrison’s side face Connah’s Quay Nomads in that match at Park Hall next weekend, and will complete an invincible season if they can avoid defeat. Kick-off is scheduled for 2:15pm on Sunday, April 21st.