A 5-2 victory over Briton Ferry Llansawel moves The New Saints to within a point of the JD Cymru Premier summit

Match Report

Goals: Brobbel (7), Oteh (19), J. Williams (32, 82), Wilson (47)
Substitutions: Marshall for D. Williams (58), McManus for Oteh (75), Clark for Brobbel (75), Woollam for D. Davies (85), Bradley for J. Williams (85)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Brian Jones

The New Saints moved to within a point of the JD Cymru Premier summit after a 5-2 victory against Briton Ferry Llansawel.

Craig Harrison’s side reacted well to their defeat in Slovenia, taking the lead with just seven minutes on the clock, and they went into the half-time break with a 3-1 advantage.

Picking up where they left off following the restart, further goals from Adam Wilson and Jordan Williams wrapped up the win, and ensured all three points for the defending champions.

The New Saints were threatening from the off, and with three minutes on the clock, Will Fuller pulled off a smart save to prevent Aramide Oteh from scoring an early opener.

Less than 60 seconds later, the Briton Ferry goalkeeper came to his side’s rescue again, tipping an effort from Dan Williams behind for a corner.

In the seventh minute though, Craig Harrison’s side were rewarded for all of their attacking threat, as Ryan Brobbel swept home from inside the penalty area to make the score 1-0 in favour of the home side.

Against the run of play though, and taking advantage of the windy conditions at Park Hall, the visitors hit back.

With 14 minutes on the clock, a long-range effort from Caleb Demery got caught in the wind, unsighting Roberts and leaving the TNS goalkeeper with no chance as it nestled in the back of the net.

Just five minutes later, however, the JD Cymru Premier champions were back in front, as Aramide Oteh headed home a rebound after Danny Davies had struck the crossbar.

The former Walsall man could’ve scored a second just after the half hour mark too, but after going one-on-one with Fuller after a great Davies pass, the Ferry goalkeeper made another important save.

There was nothing the visitors’ number 13 could do to prevent The Saints from increasing their advantage a few minutes later though, as a powerful effort from Jordan Williams deflected into the back of the net to make the score 3-1.

Harrison’s side wasted no time in picking up where they left off following the restart, as with 47 minutes on the clock, they scored their fourth of the afternoon.

A cross across the box from Jordan Williams reached Adam Wilson, and the on-loan Bradford City man was left with an opportunity too good to miss as he slid in at the back post.

In the 59th minute, Oteh was causing problems again for the visiting defence, as he spun with the ball on the edge of the six-yard box. He got a shot away, but the impressive Fuller was again there to deny the TNS number 15.

Three minutes later, Jordan Williams went close from the edge of the penalty area, before a curling effort from Redmond landed on the roof of the net with 67 minutes played.

It was the visitors who would score the next goal of the game though, giving them a slender lifeline with 12 minutes to play.

After some good footwork from Japser Payne to create space for a cross, the number 20 picked out Corey Hurford eight yards from goal, and the substitute proceeded to beat Roberts with a first-time finish.

But just five minutes later, the JD Cymru Premier champions restored their three-goal advantage and wrapped up the win, when Jordan Williams turned home a corner from Jordan Marshall with a smart backheel.

That made the score 5-2 in favour of The New Saints, and that’s how it ended at Park Hall to move Harrison’s side to within a point of league leaders, Penybont. 

Next up for TNS is a Boxing Day (December 26th) trip to Caernarfon Town. Kick-off at The Oval is scheduled for 2:30pm, with the match also selected for live broadcast by Sgorio.