The New Saints overcome resilient Colwyn Bay to extend winning streak to five matches

Match Report

https://twitter.com/tnsfc/status/2022382155666743699?s=20

Goals: J. Williams (53), Brobbel (67) [P]
Yellow cards: J. Owen (10), Brobbel (36)
Substitutions: Marshall for Owen (70), Clark for Jefferies (78), B. Wilson for Brobbel (78), Charles for Holden (87)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Craig Thomas/FAW

The New Saints extended their commanding lead at the top of the JD Cymru Premier table to 13 points with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Colwyn Bay.

Despite a cagey opening 45 minutes that ended goalless, the defending champions came alive after the interval.

Second-half strikes from Jordan Williams and Ryan Brobbel sealed a fifth consecutive win for Craig Harrison’s side, who are now firmly in control of the title race with just seven matches remaining

It was almost an ideal start for The New Saints with less than three minutes on the clock when home goalkeeper Alex Brown failed to clear a backpass from Lewis Sirrell.

Jordan Williams beat the goalkeeper to the ball, but the Colwyn Bay shotstopper did well to recover and make an important save at the feet of the attacker.

The JD Cymru Premier’s leading goalscorer was involved again in the 14th minute, calling Brown into action once more with an effort from the left of the box.

Mike Wilde’s side had their first real foray forward with 29 minutes gone after a surging run down the left from Jordan Davies. The striker’s eventual cross was headed out as far as Alex Moore on the edge of the TNS penalty area, but the Seagulls man could only send a volleyed effort over the crossbar.

There was another opportunity for the home side 10 minutes before the break when Moore’s in-swinging corner struck the near post. The ball fell kindly for Nathan Peate on the right of the six-yard box, but the defender could only find the side netting with his effort.

Former Stockport County man Williams continued to cause problems for the home defence and had another chance to break the deadlock in the 41st minute. Receiving the ball from Eoin Farrell inside the penalty area, the number 17 failed to hit the target with his effort, and as a result, the sides went in level at the break.

But Craig Harrison’s side started the second-half strongly, and with 48 minutes on the clock, Ryan Brobbel watched an effort from just outside the penalty area headed against the post by home defender Moore.

The Saints were eventually rewarded for their pressure in the 53rd minute though, as Williams finally got his goal.

After some good work from Brobbel to create space in the box, he played a cushioned pass across the face of goal, allowing the number 17 to turn the ball past Brown to score his 23rd goal of the season.

There was a let-off for TNS just minutes after scoring, however, when Harrison McGahey inadvertently turned a clearance onto his own post. Much to the relief of the defender, the ball bounced back out kindly in his direction, and he cleared the danger at the second time of asking.

Harrison’s team continued to cause problems, and in the 66th minute, they were given a golden opportunity to double their advantage from the penalty spot when Rory Holden was fouled by Sirrell.

Brobbel was the player who stepped up to take it, and he made no mistake in drilling a powerful effort beneath the goalkeeper to put his side in control of proceedings.

After a disrupted end to the half following a number of substitutions, Williams had the chance to put the match to bed in the 79th minute after he was played through by Holden. The Colwyn Bay goalkeeper got out quickly to deny the TNS man a second of the night though, keeping his side in the game.

With just 10 minutes left to play, however, the home side were unable to mount a comeback, and the Saints saw out the game professionally to secure a 2-0 victory.

Craig Harrison’s side are back in action at Park Hall next weekend as they welcome Caernarfon Town to Oswestry.

Kick-off is scheduled for 7:45pm on Friday, February 20th.