The New Saints’ unbeaten run ends with narrow defeat to Cardiff Met

Match Report

https://twitter.com/tnsfc/status/1986868439596580928

Goals: Clark (55), Brobbel [P] (63)
Yellow cards: Davies (31), Craig Harrison (67)
Substitutions: Cieslewicz for Jefferies (78), Marshall for D. Williams (78)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Craig Thomas

There was disappointment for The New Saints at Park Hall, as Cardiff Met snatched a 3-2 victory right at the death.

After trailing 2-0 at half-time, Craig Harrison’s side battled back through goals from Ben Clark and Ryan Brobbel and looked set to claim a point, before disaster struck late in the game.

Former TNS man Adam Roscrow capitalised on a defensive error to score the winner in the third minute of stoppage time, condemning the league leaders to their first defeat since August 10th.

The New Saints started brightly and with nine minutes on the clock, created the first chance of the night.

After finding space inside the penalty area, Dan Williams saw his effort blocked by Met defender Barnaby Soady, before the ball was scrambled clear.

At the other end, Nathan Shepperd was called into action for the first time in the 16th minute, pulling off a comfortable save to keep out a Lewis Rees free-kick. It wasn’t long, however, before the visitors made the breakthrough.

Connecting with a cross from Rees at the back post, Jasper Payne made no mistake as he powered a header past Shepperd and into the back of the net.

Craig Harrison’s side responded well to the setback though and in the 25th minute, Jordan Williams saw an effort cleared off the line.

Eight minutes later, Ryan Brobbel almost headed home an equaliser after an inviting ball from Jordan Williams, before Danny Redmond fired over the crossbar from the edge of the area.

But with 38 minutes played, disaster struck for the Saints, as Ryan Jenkins’ side doubled their advantage.

After a swift counter-attack led by Rees, the TNS Academy graduate picked out Fumpa Mwamdwe with a precise ball across the box, and the winger calmly swept home with his left foot to make it 2-0.

Trailing by two at the break, the Saints had work to do in the second half, but had appeals for a penalty turned down by referee Mark Petch in the 50th minute when Met captain CJ Craven appeared to handle the ball inside the area.

But the league leaders did find a way back into the match just five minutes later, when a superb cross from Redmond picked out Ben Clark at the back post.

The Academy graduate sent a header into the back of the net from close-range to reduce the deficit and give his side a lifeline.

That goal proved to be the turning point, as the equaliser arrived from the penalty spot just after the hour mark following a handball by Samuel Richards.

Ryan Brobbel stepped up and coolly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from 12 yards, setting up a grandstand finish at Park Hall.

It was all TNS after the equaliser, and with 15 minutes to play, Met goalkeeper Samuel Seager pulled off an important stop at the back post to prevent Danny Davies from giving the hosts the lead for the first time.

Clark went close to a second in the 79th minute with a volley from inside the penalty area, but his effort flew narrowly over the crossbar.

With time running out, the points looked set to be shared at Park Hall, but there was disaster in the third minute of stoppage time when the Students capitalised on a mistake at the back.

Receiving the ball from Eliot Evans, former TNS man Adam Roscrow found the bottom corner from the edge of the area to snatch victory for the visitors – condemning the Saints to their first defeat since August.

Craig Harrison’s side are back in JD Cymru Premier action next Friday (November 14th) when they travel north to Flint Town United. Kick-off at the Essity Stadium is scheduled for 7:45pm.