The New Saints fall to a 2-1 defeat against Caernarfon Town

Match Report

Goals: Smith (12)
Substitutions: D. Williams for Smith (46), Brobbel for Bradley (58), Oteh for McManus (58), Pask for Marshall (67), Cieslewicz for Clark (75)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Brian Jones

Despite taking the lead against Caernarfon Town, The New Saints fell to a second consecutive home defeat.

Things were looking good in the early stages of the game, as Leo Smith gave The Saints the lead with just 12 minutes on the clock.

However, Zack Clarke cancelled out the opener in the 34th minute, before a Louis Lloyd goal eight minutes from time handed the visitors their first win at Park Hall since November 2018.

The New Saints could’ve taken the lead with just eight minutes on the clock, but after getting on the end of Danny Redmond’s through ball into the box, Declan McManus was denied by an excellent point-blank save by Hari Thomas.

It wasn’t long before Craig Harrison’s side were celebrating the opening goal, however, as just four minutes later, a long-range effort from Leo Smith unsighted the goalkeeper and nestled in the back of the net.

In the 20th minute, The Saints were in again, but after a good cross from Josh Daniels on the right, Jordan Williams couldn’t keep his effort on target from the edge of the six-yard box.

Down the other end, Caernarfon had a great chance to equalise with 29 minutes played, but after going one-on-one with Connor Roberts inside the penalty area, Matty Hill failed to beat the TNS goalkeeper.

Five minutes later though, Richard Davies’ side did get back on level terms courtesy of leading goalscorer, Zack Clarke, who turned home Joe Faux’s cross from inside the six-yard box.

Before the interval, Ben Clark had a couple of chances to restore the TNS advantage, but on both occasions, the Academy graduate failed to hit the target.

Following the restart, the visitors there was a let-off for The Saints in the 56th minute, when an under-hit pass from Danny Redmond allowed Clarke to race through on goal.

Choosing to take the shot on himself, the Caernarfon man struck the crossbar with a powerful effort, before The Saints scrambled the ball clear.

Three minutes later, substitute, Remi Oteh was denied by Thomas, before an effort on the turn from Hill went close for the Canaries.

As they looked to restore their advantage, Danny Redmond struck the crossbar with a close-range header in the 66th minute, before a follow-up effort from Ben Clark was cleared off the line by Phil Mooney.

However, eight minutes from time, disaster struck for the JD Cymru Premier champions, as it was Caernarfon who scored the game’s third goal.

Racing onto the end of Clarke’s over-the-top ball, Louis Lloyd took a touch to set himself, before sliding a finish past Roberts from just inside the penalty area.

In the 87th minute, Remi Oteh almost scored an equaliser for The Saints, but was denied inside the six-yard box by the impressive Thomas, before Ryan Brobbel went close with a free-kick late in the game.

Despite throwing everything at it in the closing stages, Harrison’s side were unable to find a way back into the match and fell to a second consecutive defeat at Park Hall.

The Saints are back in action at home this coming Saturday (October 12th), when they host fourth-placed Cardiff Metropolitan University.