A brace each for Brobbel and Young secure the three points at SDM Glass Stadium

Match Report

Goals: Young (51, 57), Brobbel (67, 82)
Yellow cards: J. Williams (34)
Substitutions: D. Davies for J. Williams (63), Holden for Redmond (77), D. Williams for Hudson (82), Cieslewicz for Young (82)

Match report by Stewart Bloor

With Connah’s Quay Nomads drawing 1-1 at Aberystwyth Town yesterday evening, the visit to SDM Glass Stadium presented the opportunity for The New Saints to go four points clear at the top of the JD Cymru Premier.

In spite of falling behind and trailing at the break, a second-half brace for both Ryan Brobbel and Brad Young secured a 4-1 victory, as Craig Harrison’s side remain unbeaten in the league this season.

The MD11 game against Penybont FC saw the deadlock broken in the sixth minute, when a Mael Davies cross from the right was met by Chris Venables, as his header beat Connor Roberts and ended up in the back of the net.

The New Saints were then given an opportunity, when a poor clearance from Alex Harris went straight to Ben Clark. The ‘keeper redeemed himself though as he pushed the shot over the bar for a corner.

In the 19^th minute, good work down the left from Clark saw Brad Young go for goal, but a block from Lewis Harling denied the striker, who just afterwards again launched an attempt as the visitors looked to get themselves back in the game.

In the 27^th minute, while waiting for a Penybont corner, Josh Yorwerth received a red card after striking Ryan Astles in the penalty area.

As we passed the one-third stage of the encounter, Leo Smith hit the crossbar from the right, as the league leaders chased an equaliser before the break. It wasn’t to be though, with Ryan Brobbel coming the closest, as he struck the post in added time at the end of the first-half.

An early attempt in the second period saw a Clark header go over, following a Josh Daniels cross from the right.

The New Saints were back level though, just six minutes after the break. Clark, looking lively in the box, set up Young who saw his strike beat Harris.

In the 57^th minute, Craig Harrison’s side were in front for the first time in the game. Great work down the right from Daniels, saw Young grab his second goal of the game, as he connected and put the ball beyond Harris’ reach.

Ten minutes on and it was 3-1. What a tremendous strike it was, as Ryan Brobbel set himself up and let rip on the left, giving the ‘keeper no chance.

Looking for his hat-trick, with just less than twenty minutes to go, Young’s first-time strike was over the bar.

There was another goal though but it went to Brobbel. With eight minutes remaining, The New Saints were awarded a free-kick left of centre. With the wall inside the area, the Northern Ireland U-21 international beat them and the ‘keeper, as he saw his superb strike end up in the net.