The New Saints move three points clear after 4-0 win over Barry Town United

Match Report

Goals: Bodenham (20), Charles (51), Clark (75), Jefferies (82)
Substitutions: Marshall for Corness (63), Holden for Wilson (71), Jefferies for Charles (71), Nadin for Brobbel (83), Owen for Davies (83)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Brian Jones

The New Saints defeated Barry Town United 4-0 to move three points clear at the top of the JD Cymru Premier table.

It was another strong performance from Craig Harrison’s side, with goals from Jack Bodenham, Ken Charles, Ben Clark and Issac Jefferies sealing the win at Park Hall.

The result also means the Saints have extended their recent winning run, which now sits at seven  consecutive matches in all competitions.

It was the visitors who enjoyed the better of the ball in the early stages, but despite winning a couple of corners inside the opening 10 minutes, they failed to make anything of them.

The Saints tested George Ratcliffe in the Barry goal for the first time in the 16th minute, but Adam Wilson’s effort from just outside the penalty area was easily dealt with the former Connah’s Quay Nomads man.

Down the other end, Nathan Shepperd made an important stop less than 60 seconds later, preventing Ollie Hulbert from opening the scoring from inside the penalty area.

From then on though, it was all TNS, and with 20 minutes gone, the home side made the breakthrough.

A superb cross from Ryan Brobbel found Jack Bodenham inside the six-yard box, and the number six showed good composure to head the ball past the goalkeeper.

Craig Harrison’s side went close to a second in the 37th minute, but Adam Wilson headed narrowly wide after an over-the-top pass from Danny Redmond.

Six minutes after the restart though, the defending champions did take a firmer grip on the game, as Ken Charles added his side’s second with a powerful strike from the centre of the penalty area.

In the 59th minute, Brobbel went close himself with another powerful strike of his own, before Adam Wilson curled wide from the edge of the box soon after.

The visitors weren’t out of the game by any stretch of the imagination though, and in the 67th minute they had a great chance to pull a goal back.

After Callum Sainty lead his side forward with a surging run, the Barry captain slipped the ball through to Morgan Wigley, but Nathan Shepperd pulled off a good save to deny the visitors’ number 42.

But in the 75th minute, Harrison’s side finally put the match to bed, with Ben Clark tapping home the TNS third from close-range after Ratcliffe parried an initial shot from substitute Isaac Jefferies.

Eight minutes from time, things got even better for the defending champions, as Jefferies got on the scoresheet himself, sending powerful strike past the goalkeeper and into the top corner after a good piece of skill inside the penalty area.

Four-nil is how it ended at Park Hall, with The New Saints moving three points clear at the top of the JD Cymru Premier table as a result of their victory.

Craig Harrison’s side are back in league action on Tuesday night (October 7th), as they travel to the Go Goodwinns Stadium to take on Caernarfon Town. Kick-off in that match is scheduled for 7:45pm.