Brobbel brilliance inspires an 11th consecutive JD Cymru Premier win

Match Report

Goals: Brobbel (36, 42), McManus (46)
Substitutions: McManus for Wilson (37), D. Davies for Marriott (53), Clark for Smith (76), Canavan for Cieslewicz (76)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Raw Photography

The New Saints picked up their 11th consecutive JD Cymru Premier victory with a 3-1 win away against Haverfordwest County.

Two goals from Ryan Brobbel had put his side in control at the break, before Declan McManus wrapped up the points with a third just seconds after the restart.

Rhys Abbruzzese pulled a consolation back for the hosts in second-half stoppage time, but it wasn’t enough to prevent The Saints from collecting all three points. 

It was a quiet start to the game, with a fourth-minute Ben Fawcett effort the only chance of note, but things sprung into life just before the half-hour mark.

With 27 minutes gone, Jordan Davies had an opening inside the plenty area, but the host’s number 11 failed to work the goalkeeper with his shot.

Four minutes later, the Bluebirds were threatening again, and an effort from Jamie Veale was deflected behind for a corner.

Those missed opportunities proved to be the turning point in the game, as the JD Cymru Premier champions took the lead in bizarre fashion not long after.

Much to the surprise of everyone in the stadium, a corner from Ryan Brobbel evaded everyone in the middle, including the goalkeeper, and went directly into the back of the net.

Just three minutes before the half-time whistle, Brobbel was at the double, extending his side’s lead with a great piece of skill.

Bringing the ball down brilliantly inside the box, the number eight beat a couple of players, before firing low beneath the helpless Zac Jones.

And just seconds after the restart, Craig Harrison’s side took complete control of the game through substitute, Declan McManus.

It was great vision from the lively Brobbel to pick out the Scottish striker, who scored his 11th goal of the season after beating the goalkeeper with a composed finish from close range.

Five minutes later, there was an excellent chance for McManus to grab a second, but his curling effort was wide of the far post.

Despite the three-goal deficit, the hosts still had chances, and in the 65th minute, Connor Roberts pulled off a superb save at point-blank range to deny Jack Wilson.

Leo Smith and Jake Canavan had opportunities to extend the TNS lead further in the time that remained, but neither midfielder could beat Lewis in the Bluebirds’ goal.

In the second minute of second-half stoppage time, the home side did eventually grab a late consolation goal, when a powerful strike from Rhys Abbruzzese took a wicked deflection to deny Roberts a merited clean sheet.

The victory in Pembrokeshire means that Harrison’s side have now won 11 consecutive JD Cymru Premier matches, and they’ll be looking to make it a 12th when they host Cardiff Metropolitan University at Park Hall on Saturday (November 5).