FK Panevėžys 0-3 The New Saints: match report

Match Report

Goals: D. Davies (52), D. Williams (64), Clark (90+1)
Yellow cards: Daniels (42), Craig Harrison (45+1), D. Davies (57), Roberts (57), Marshall (74) Brobbel – not on pitch (90+5)
Substitutions: Wilson for Cieslewicz (79), Pask for Marshall (79), Clark for Holden (79), Bradley for Young (87)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Brian Jones

The New Saints have one foot in the UEFA Conference League thanks to a 3-0 victory on the road against FK Panevėžys.

After a close-fought opening half, The Saints made their superiority count in the second 45 to secure another historic victory in Lithuania.

Danny Davies opened the scoring in the 52nd minute following a corner, before Dan Williams and Ben Clark gave the JD Cymru Premier champions further breathing space in the tie.

It was a positive start from the visitors and they were seeing plenty of possession in the game’s early stages.

With 13 minutes gone, The Saints had a great opportunity to break the deadlock, but Dan Williams’ volley from the edge of the penalty area was narrowly wide of the post.

Panevėžys’ Kaspars Dubra headed wide from a free-kick in the 27th minute, before the Lithuanian champions then had the best chance of the half, as Amine Benchaib worked space on the edge of the penalty area, before curling wide of Connor Roberts’ goal.

Just minutes later, home goalkeeper, Vytautas Černiauskas, was called into action for the first time by Rory Holden, but he made a good diving save to deny to the number 18.

Six minutes into the second-half, the Panevėžys goalkeeper made another vital save, again to deny Holden, but on that occasion, the ball went behind for a corner.

It was from the resulting corner that The Saints scored a deserved opener, as Danny Davies – the two-goal hero the last time TNS played in Lithuania – drifted into space at the back post and bundled the ball into the back of the net.

With 56 minutes on the clock, the match descended into controversy following a late challenge by Nicolas Gorobsov on Jack Bodenham.

Despite appearing to catch the TNS man recklessly, and referee, Eldorjan Hamiti,  visiting the VAR review area for a second look at the incident, no further action was deemed necessary, and play resumed with a free-kick. 

In the 62nd minute, the hosts had a golden chance to equalise courtesy of substitute, Jeffery Sarpong, but the number 23’s header from the edge of the six-yard box was narrowly wide of the post.

Two minutes later, Craig Harrison’s side took an even stronger grip on the tie thanks to some individual skill from Dan Williams.

Beating two defenders before cutting inside from the right, the former Swansea City man sent a composed finish across the face of goal and into the far corner of the net.

Panevėžys almost hit back in the 74th minute, but Jovan Čađenović headed narrowly wide from a right-sided free-kick as they searched for a way back into the game.

Things were already looking good for The Saints as time continued to tick down, but in the first of seven stoppage time minutes, the night got even better for the team from Wales.

An inviting ball across the box was turned home at the back post by substitute, Ben Clark, increasing The New Saints’ aggregate advantage to 3-0, and leaving Harrison’s side in a very healthy position ahead of the second leg next week.

The reverse meeting takes place at Park Hall Stadium on Thursday, August 29th, with kick-off scheduled for 6:30pm. Tickets remain on sale and can be purchased by clicking HERE.