The New Saints get their JD Cymru Premier campaign off to a winning start at the Essity Stadium

Match Report

Goals: Bradley (23, 30, 69 [P]), Clark (59)
Yellow cards: Doforo (18), Baker (76), Hudson (76)
Substitutions: Clark for McManus (21), Blayney for D. Williams (77), Afful for Cieslewicz (77), Clayton for Baker (77), Smith for Hudson (88)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Brian Jones

The New Saints got their JD Cymru Premier campaign off to the perfect start with a 4-1 victory on the road against Flint Town United.

Sion Bradley scored a hat-trick on his league debut, while Ben Clark was also on target at the Essity Stadium.

Craig Harrison’s side will now switch their focus back to European action, as they travel to Lithuania to play FK Panevėžys in the UEFA Conference League play-off.

The home side started brightly, and it was they who had the first chance of the game in the fourth minute.

After surging into the penalty area down the left, George Maire got a shot away, but Connor Roberts pulled off an important save to deny the Flint man.

Six minutes later, the Silkmen were causing problems again, and only the post prevented Alec Mudimu from heading his side into the lead following a corner.

In the 19th minute, there was another let-off for the JD Cymru Premier champions, as Jake Phillips’ free-kick from the right almost snuck in at the back post.

Despite having to soak up plenty of pressure in the early stages, it was The New Saints who did eventually make the breakthrough in the 23rd minute.

Collecting the ball on the edge of the penalty area, Sion Bradley beat Jack Flint with a composed finish into the far corner to score his first league goal for his new side.

The former Caernarfon man wasted no time in doubling his tally either, as in the 30th minute, he found the back of the net again with a composed side-footed finish after beating Isaac Lambert on the edge of the penalty area.

In the 34th minute, The Saints were thwarted by Ben Hughes, who cleared an effort from Dan Williams off the line, before the Flint number eight then went close down the other end moments later.

Four minutes before the break, there was another scare for the visitors when Florian Yonsian struck the crossbar from distance, but the ball was eventually scrambled clear.

Bradley could’ve completed a superb hat-trick in the 53rd minute after some great vision from substitute, Ben Clark, but Jack Flint rushed out quickly to deny the TNS number 20.

Harrison’s side did eventually score their third goal just before the hour mark, however, as Clark raced onto the end of Dan Williams’ forward ball to slot beneath the goalkeeper.

In the 63rd minute, an effort from Jake Canavan cannoned back off the crossbar, before Dan Williams curled wide from the edge of the box four minutes later.

With 21 minutes to go, The Saints were given the chance to extend their lead further, when referee, Mark Petch, awarded a penalty following a foul on Bradley.

The JD Cymru Premier Player of the Season made no mistake from the spot, as he completed his first TNS hat-trick on his first league start for the defending champions.

Five minutes from time, the Silkmen pulled a goal back courtesy of Jake Phillips, but it proved to be no more than a consolation for Lee Fowler’s men.

Running out 4-1 winners at the Essity Stadium, The Saints got their JD Cymru Premier campaign off to the perfect start, and also put together important momentum ahead of their UEFA Conference League fixture on next week.

FK Panevėžys stand between The New Saints and a place in the league phase, with the first leg scheduled to take place in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius next Thursday (August 22nd).