Late Hughes winner sends The New Saints top of the Novira Cymru Premier

Match Report

https://twitter.com/tnsfc/status/2096254465997255050?s=20

Goals: Hughes (88)
Yellow cards: Nolan (42)
Substitutions: J. Williams for B. Wilson (61), Young for Jefferies (61), Redmond for Nolan (77), Brobbel for Lock (82)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Craig Thomas/FAW

The New Saints left it late, but Rhys Hughes’ last-gasp goal secured a 1-0 victory against Barry Town United.

Barry had the ball in the net twice in the opening period, but on both occasions, the goals were disallowed by referee Aaron Wyn Jones.

The match looked destined to finish level at Park Hall, but with two minutes of the 90 remaining, the summer signing scored for the fourth consecutive game to send the Saints top of the Novira Cymru Premier.

The visitors thought they’d made the breakthrough in the eighth minute after a scramble inside the penalty area.

After Noah Daley’s initial effort came back out off the right post, Michael George was on hand to turn home the rebound, only to look to his right and see the offside flag raised by the assistant referee.

At the other end of the pitch, The New Saints were also searching for the first goal of the game, with Josh Lock looking lively in the early stages.

In the 25th minute, Danny Davies got to the byline and cut the ball back for the arriving Academy graduate, but his first-time effort proved easy for George Ratcliffe to deal with.

Barry had the ball in the back of the net again eight minutes before the break. Elliott Duggan headed home after a well-worked free-kick routine, but the referee disallowed the goal once more for a foul in the build-up by captain Callum Sainty.

The sides went in level at the break, but just minutes after the restart, the visitors had another opportunity to open the scoring.

After Owen Brain was brought down on the edge of the area, he stepped up to take the resulting free-kick and sent a curling effort behind off the near post.

Rhys Hughes tried his luck from distance for the Novira Cymru Premier champions in the 54th minute, but was unable to replicate his recent scoring form, as Ratcliffe got his body behind the ball to make a comfortable save.

Turning to his bench in the 61st minute, Craig Harrison sent on both Jordan Williams and Brad Young as he looked for more attacking firepower.

It was Lock who had the game’s next chance though, and would’ve made the breakthrough for the Saints were it not for a goal-saving challenge from Michael George.

Time was running out at Park Hall, and when Ratcliffe got down quickly to deny substitute Jordan Williams in the 87th minute, the match looked destined to end level.

Summer signing Rhys Hughes had other ideas, and just 60 seconds later, found the net for the fourth consecutive game to snatch a 1-0 victory.

The midfielder didn’t know too much about the finish, however, as William Richards’ clearance struck the knee of Hughes on the edge of the six-yard box and deflected in off the crossbar.

It was too late in the day for the visitors to respond, and as a result, Craig Harrison’s side went home with the full three points.

The New Saints are back in action next Friday (September 11th), when they travel to the Hollingsworth Group Stadium to take on Airbus UK Broughton. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:45pm.