Seven Wins In A Row, As The New Saints Earn A Hard Fought Victory Against Connah’s Quay Nomads

Match Report

Goals: Robles (42)
Yellow cards: Astles (52), Robles (90+3), Draper (90+7)
Substitutions: Holland for Redmond (56), Draper for Ebbe (84)

Match report by Sam Wood

The New Saints moved top of the JD Cymru Premier with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Connah’s Quay Nomads at Park Hall tonight.

A game with few chances at either end, it was a crucial touch by Louis Robles, turning Jon Routledge’s strike into the back of the net, just three minutes before the half-time whistle, which ultimately made the difference.

The first chance of the match though, fell the way of the visiting side. After Daniel Davies had brought a good save down low from Paul Harrison, the goalkeeper needed to react quickly, as he made a smart second stop to deny the returning Aeron Edwards.

At the other end, The Saints had strong appeals for a penalty, as Dean Ebbe appeared to have been clattered in the area by John Disney, but on second viewing, The Nomads man did well to get a foot on the ball.

Both Edwards and Danny Redmond had chances in the minutes that followed, with the former sending an effort over the crossbar, before Lewis Brass saved from the latter.

It looked as if the sides would go into the break level, however, with just three minutes to go until the half-time whistle, Scott Ruscoe’s side did manage to get the all important go-ahead goal.

After a corner from the right dropped at the feet of Jon Routledge on the edge of the box, the number six sent a powerful strike towards goal. It travelled through a number bodies in the penalty area, before Louis Robles managed to get a crucial touch on the ball at the back post to divert it into the goal and make the score 1-0.

Following the restart, Ruscoe’s side were given an early blow after just six minutes, as Danny Redmond was forced off after being flattened by Edwards. Tom Holland came on as his replacement and was thrown straight into defensive duties.

And the visitors continued to apply the pressure throughout the second period with Williams, Curran and Davies all trying their luck from outside the area unsuccessfully.

There was more superb defending by Hudson with 71 minutes gone, who made a crucial block to deny Declan Poole an acrobatic finish, before Disney went closest for his side, firing narrowly wide of the post from inside the area.

It was certainly one way traffic for much of the half, but Ruscoe’s side continued to look dangerous on the counter-attack. With just two minutes of the regulation ninety remaining, a fast breakaway gave Adrian Cieslewicz an opening, but his effort came agonisingly back of the post. 

The seven minutes of additional time were tense, but The New Saints survived the Connah’s Quay onslaught, hanging on for three points which sent them top of the table, and made it seven league wins in a row this season.