The New Saints get back to winning ways against Cardiff Met University

Match Report

Goals: Cadwallader [O.G] (3), D. Davies (20), Oteh (63)
Substitutions: Bradley for Brobbel (76), Daniels for Baker (76), McManus for Cieslewicz (83), Clark for Oteh (83), Doforo for Redmond (83)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Brian Jones

The New Saints got back to winning ways with a 3-0 victory against Cardiff Met University.

An early Evan Cadwallader own goal and a Danny Davies header did most of the damage in the first-half, before Remi Oteh wrapped up the points for the hosts just after the hour mark.

It was the ideal start for Craig Harrison’s side, but disaster for Cardiff Met, as the deadlock was broken via an own goal with less than three minutes on the clock.

Evan Cadwallader was the unfortunate Archer on the scoresheet, as Ash Baker’s right-sided cross struck the defender inside the six-yard box and trickled past the goalkeeper.

With nine minutes played, there was almost a second for the home side, but Jake Canavan failed to get a clean connection inside the penalty area.

In the 20th minute, however, the Cardiff Met defence was breached again, as Danny Davies connected with Rory Holden’s cross inside the penalty area to power home a header.

Down the other end, the visitors could’ve pulled a goal back in the 29th minute, but Connor Roberts pulled off a good save to deny Thomas Vincent from inside the box.

A TNS third almost arrived in the 34th minute, as Remi Oteh turned the ball home from inside the penalty area, but the offside flag was quickly raised by the assistant referee.

Following the restart, Craig Harrison’s side were causing problems again. Ash Baker fired over from the right of the box in the 48th minute, before another goal – this time from Ryan Brobbel – was called back for offside.

Dan Williams then went close in the 53rd minute, as he struck the side netting with a powerful strike from just inside the 18-yard area, before Adrian Cieslewicz fired wide a few minutes later.

Just after the hour mark though, The Saints were finally rewarded for their pressure.

After the ball fell kindly on the edge of the penalty area, Remi Oteh stroked a finish past Alex Lang and into the bottom corner to make the score 3-0 in favour of the defending champions.

Despite the latter stages of the match being disrupted by substitutions, there were still further chances for The Saints to add to their advantage.

In the 79th minute, one of those players introduced, Josh Daniels, glanced a header wide following a corner, and a point-blank save from Lang denied Declan McManus four minutes from time.

Although there were no further goals, having lost three of their last four in the league, it was still a welcome return to winning ways for The New Saints, who climbed to fifth in the table as a result.

The JD Cymru Premier champions are back in action at Park Hall on Tuesday (October 15), as they entertain Flint Town United (kick-off 7:45pm).