Three For The Win As Saints Return To Summit – The New Saints FC 3-0 Connah’s Quay Nomads

Match Report

Substitutions: Ebbe for Draper (66), Redmond for Edwards (69), Byrne for Brobbel (90+2)
Attendance: 225

The New Saints returned to the top of the JD Welsh Premier League table with a great 3-0 victory over a strong Connah’s Quay Nomads side.

Two goals from Aeron Edwards, including a first-half wonder strike, and a Blaine Hudson header, ensured that Scott Ruscoe’s side took all three points from the top of the table clash.

First-half  

The first 20 minutes was a cagey affair with neither side wanting to risk conceding the first goal. It was almost the visitors who took the lead though. A dangerous ball whipped into the box caused trouble for the TNS defence, but no attacking player was able to get it under control.

It took a moment of magic to make the breakthrough mid-way through the first-half. With 26 minutes gone, Greg Draper fed the ball to Aeron Edwards in the centre of the pitch, where the number 23 carried the ball forward slightly, before unleashing a rocket of a shot past John Danby and into the top corner of the goal.

The visitors should have been level with 36 minutes gone. A dangerous cross was put into the box from the left, where it was headed clear by Ben Cabango. The ball fell to Callum Morris on the edge of the box, who brought a good save from Paul Harrison with his initial effort. The ball then rebounded to him, but he could only divert the ball over the bar with a follow up shot.

Second-half

Following another quiet opening to the second period, it was Edwards who grabbed not only his, but his side’s second goal of the game.

With 58 minutes played, a long ball forward from the back found the midfielder in space, and he showed great technique to loft the ball over the outrushing goalkeeper, before racing round to tap home the follow up into an empty goal.

The points were made safe following a strong Blaine Hudson header after 66 minutes. After passing up numerous chances to get on the scoresheet, the central defender made no mistake as he headed home Chris Marriott’s free-kick from the left.

It could have been four for The New Saints with the last kick of the match. Introduced as a second-half substitute, Dean Ebbe received the ball in plenty of space in the centre of the penalty area, and with Danby out of position, only managed to hit the crossbar with his effort.

Never the less, the 3-0 victory was enough to send Scott Ruscoe’s side back to the top of the JD Welsh Premier League summit and give them a big psychological boost in the title race.