No goals at Deeside Stadium but it’s enough to secure a record-breaking 15th JD Cymru Premier title for The New Saints

Match Report

Yellow cards: Redmond (70)
Substitutions: Routledge for D. Williams (60), Baker for Hudson (60), Cieslewicz for Smith (80)

Match report by Stewart Bloor
Lead image: Brian Jones

Although The New Saints got off to a brighter start, it was an alert Connor Roberts who raced from his penalty area to clear the ball ahead of Jack Kenny in the opening exchanges.

We had to wait until the 14th minute before Andy Firth was called into action – and what a save it was. Ryan Brobbel, twisting and turning on the left, set himself up as the ‘keeper pushed his goal-bound shot behind for a corner.

Dan Williams was the next player to go for goal, but his low effort was wide of Firth’s left post.

This was followed, in the 20th minute by another Brobbel strike, but on this occasion it was also off-target. Although the deadlock was yet to broken, it was Leo Smith’s turn next, as his long-range shot was again just wide.

A deflection from Williams’ attempt on goal led to a corner and although he connected with the loose ball, Smith watched his shot go well over.

Despite The New Saints dominating both possession and chances, the first period ended with no goals for the 303 crowd to witness, although the visitors did have a penalty appeal turned down towards the end of the half.

Continuing where they left off, just a couple of minutes into the second 45, Firth tipped over a Declan McManus strike as Craig Harrison’s side took the game to Connah’s Quay from the off.

Danny Davies then stung the ‘keeper’s fingers from a tight angle on the right, with good defending from Blaine Hudson sandwiched in between, as the Nomads made a rare excursion into Roberts’ penalty area.

Paulo Mendes’ pace caused problems for the visitors but the freshly introduced Ash Baker did well at the back, as Neil Gibson’s side showed another flash of inspiration. Getting themselves into the game, as we headed into the final-third a deflected shot from Mendes led to a Nomads’ corner.

It was business as usual though in 69th minute, when Firth tipped a McManus strike behind, as The New Saints regained the upper hand. Then it was Brobbel’s turn to go for goal but, although his free-kick beat the wall, the ball was over the bar.

Jon Routledge went wide and McManus tried to chip the goalkeeper from distance, as the league leaders looked to find the net as the clock continued to tick down.

Another deflected shot at the other end saw the Nomads win a corner from which they forced Roberts into a fingertip save, with the ‘keeper acrobatically pushing the ball over the bar.

He then saved again, this time going down low with the loose ball cleared by the defence.

With the referee blowing his whistle for the final time, although there were no goals in the game, the point meant that The New Saints made it a record-breaking fifteen JD Cymru Premier titles.