Saints Go Six Points Clear After Victory At The Deeside Stadium

Match Report

Goals: McManus (59)
Yellow cards: K. Davies (18), Cieslewicz (81), McManus (82), Robles (86)
Red cards: K. Davies (87)
Substitutions: Cieslewicz for Clark (77), Robles for J. Williams (84), Baker for Brobbel (89)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Brian Jones

Declan McManus scored his 13th goal of the season, as The New Saints defeated Connah’s Quay Nomads 1-0 at the Deeside Stadium.

A scrappy game for the most part, it took a second-half penalty for the only goal to arrive, although the home side thought they’d snatched a point with just seconds to go in second-half stoppage time.

The result moved Anthony Limbrick’s side 13 points clear of the Nomads, and seven clear of second-placed Bala Town, although the Lakesiders have a game in hand still to play.    

It was a scrappy start to the game, with both sides battling for the early ascendancy, and it took nine minutes for the first chance to arrive, as Chris Marriott’s free-kick was saved by Oliver Byrne.

Down the other end, some good defensive work from Ryan Astles stopped an inviting Kris Owens cross from reaching its intended target with 14 minutes gone, before a late challenge by Keston Davies earned the TNS man a yellow card four minutes later.

Limbrick’s team continued to push for the opener, and a Marriott free-kick almost caused trouble for the Nomads’ defence as the half wore on.

With 37 minutes played, a deflected Jon Routledge effort almost snuck into the far corner of the net, before Danny Redmond curled wide just a minute later.

The best chance of the match came on the stroke of half-time though, as McManus spun with the ball on the edge of the area. The Scottish forward unleashed a powerful strike towards goal, forcing Byrne to tip over the crossbar at full stretch.

The second 45 started in the same scrappy fashion as the first, although Ben Clark could’ve opened the scoring inside the opening 60 seconds, had his shot not been blocked by George Horan.

Again The Saints went forward, and Ryan Brobbel flashed an effort wide of the far post, after a threatening counter-attack, with 56 on the clock.

Two minutes later though, The Saints were rewarded for their pressure, as ex-TNS man, Jamie Mullan fouled Jordan Williams inside the area. McManus stepped up to the spot, and dispatched the penalty expertly, giving his side a deserved lead at the Deeside Stadium.

Danny Holmes had the chance to hit back immediately for Craig Harrison’s side, but blazed the ball wide of the target from the edge of the box, before a header from Aeron Edwards went over the crossbar, as they looked for a way back into the match.

With three minutes of normal time to go, a confrontation between Keston Davies and George Horan resulted in both players being shown their marching orders, leaving the two sides a man light for the remainder of the game.

And it was an eventful finale, as Connah’s Quay Nomads thought they’d snatched a point with just seconds to go, courtesy of Declan Poole.

After consultation with his assistant, referee, Lee Evans, disallowed the goal for what was assumed to be an offside in the build-up – a decision which meant The New Saints left the Deeside Stadium with all three points as a result.

Next up for Anthony Limbrick’s side is a home match against Bala Town, this coming Tuesday (October 12th), as the league’s first and second-placed sides square off for the first time this season.