Four goals and three points to end 2023 in style

Match Report

Goals: Pask (8), Brobbel (22), Young (28, 56)
Yellow cards: Marriott (89)
Substitutions: McManus for Young (78), Cieslewicz for Daniels (78), Hudson for Brobbel (78)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: FAW/Nik Mesney

The New Saints increased their JD Cymru Premier lead to 12 points thanks to a 4-0 victory on the road against Connah’s Quay Nomads.

Strikes from Josh Pask, Ryan Brobbel and Brad Young had given the lead leaders a commanding three-goal half-time advantage, before the former Aston Villa man added a fourth 11 minutes into the second period.

The win at the Essity Stadium was The Saints’ 14th in a row, with Craig Harrison’s side now unbeaten in their last 29 matches in all competitions.

It took seven minutes for the game’s first chance to arrive and it went the way of The New Saints.

Chris Marriott tried his luck from the edge of the penalty area, but the effort was deflected behind for a corner.

From that corner, however, Craig Harrison’s side got the start they were looking for, as Josh Pask found space inside the penalty area and headed the opening goal past Andy Firth.

The visitors continued to fashion chances following their opener and Brad Young forced a save from Firth with 11 minutes on the clock.

A TNS second goal arrived in the 22nd minute and it came about following some magic from Ryan Brobbel.

The ball reached the feet of the number eight on the left of the box following a defensive mistake, and after spotting the goalkeeper off his line, the Northern Ireland under-21 international sent a chipped effort into the back of the net.

In the 28th minute, Neil Gibson’s team were the victims of another defensive error, this time from Daniel Roberts, as he passed the ball straight to Rory Holden.

Laying it off to Young with a deft touch, the former Aston Villa man made no mistake in drilling the strike into the bottom left corner to give his side a commanding first-half lead.

Down the other end, the Nomads put the ball into the back of the net through Callum Morris in the 33rd minute, but referee, Aaron Wyn Jones, brought play back for a foul on the goalkeeper.

Following the restart, the league leaders could’ve had a fourth in the 48th minute, but after evading everyone inside the box, Brobbel’s free-kick failed to sneak in at the back post.

Holden then had an opportunity to extend the advantage seven minutes later, but after getting past Roberts and working the ball into the box, Firth stood up tall to deny his effort.

There was no denying Young in the 56th minute though, as The Saints’ leading goalscorer added his second, and his side’s fourth goal.

After trapping a forward pass from Danny Redmond, the number 23 fired past Firth from 12 yards out to complete a fantastic afternoon’s work in front of goal.

Although a quieter half than the first, The Saints still controlled proceedings throughout the second period, which gave Harrison the opportunity to give minutes to the returning Declan McManus, Adrian Cieslewicz and Blaine Hudson.

Introduced too late to make an impression as far as the scoreline was concerned, it was still a good run out for the trio and an important part of their recovery, as The Saints prepare to continue their fight for trophies on four fronts in the new year. 

Leaving Flintshire with a 4-0 victory safely under their belts, attention now turns to the semi-finals of the Nathaniel MG Cup.

The New Saints travel to Guilsfield on Wednesday evening (January 3rd), as they bid to reach the final of the competition for the first time since 2018.