The New Saints move 13 points clear with a fifth consecutive win

Match Report

Goals: Clark (18), McManus (23, 42, 60, 62), Brobbel (25), Stephens [O.G.] (55)
Yellow cards: Redmond (31)
Substitutions: Cieslewicz for Wilson (61), D. Davies for Marriott (61), D. Williams for Redmond (65), Dafydd for Brobbel (75), Warder for McManus (75)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Brian Jones

The New Saints moved 13 points at the top of the JD Cymru Premier following a commanding 8-1 victory against Flint Town United.

Declan McManus scored four times on his first start since November, as Craig Harrison’s side made it five consecutive wins this side of Christmas.

It was another sensational display in front of goal from the champions, with Ben Clark and Ryan Brobbel also finding the back of the net.

The start was a fast one by the league leaders, and Ben Clark forced Harry Allen in an important stop with just four minutes on the clock.

He continued to look lively throughout the opening stages, and with 18 played, Clark grabbed the go-ahead goal for his team.

Receiving the ball on the right of the goal following a corner, the Academy graduate fired beneath the goalkeeper from a tight angle to kick-off what was set to be an entertaining night.

Just five minutes later, Craig Harrison’s side were celebrating again, as Declan McManus scored his third in as many games, converting from close-range after Danny Redmond’s initial effort was parried by the goalkeeper.

In the 25th minute, The Saints took a commanding grip of proceedings, as Ryan Brobbel turned the ball home at the back post following a superb Adam Wilson cross.

The hosts were by no means out of the game though and, just minutes later, former Bala Town man, Anthony Stephens, made the score 3-1 with a spectacular left-footed free-kick from distance.

But three minutes before the break, the league leaders restored their three-goal advantage, as McManus turned the ball home at the near post following a superb Brobbel assist.

10 minutes into the second-half, The Saints scored a fifth, but rather than a blue shirt, it came courtesy of a Flint Town United head.

It was yet another inviting cross from Redmond that caused problems for the home defenders, and it was goalscorer, Stephens, who got the unfortunate touch to divert the ball past his own goalkeeper.

The scoring didn’t stop there either. In the 60th minute, Harrison’s team made it 6-1, as McManus connected with Clark’s header to score a hat-trick on his first start since November.

And just like that, the Scottish striker bagged a fourth, turning the ball home from the edge of the six-yard box, with Brobbel again the provider.

The Saints’ eighth and final goal came in the 73rd minute, when Clark scored his second of the night, stroking home from the centre of the box following some superb link-up play between substitutes, Adrian Cieslewicz and Danny Davies.

Despite finishing the match with 10 men, as Ash Baker was removed as a precaution following a tight hamstring, TNS held on to their 8-1 advantage and extended their lead to 13 points thanks to Connah’s Quay Nomads’ draw against Bala.

The 14-time JD Cymru Premier champions are back in action on Saturday (January 14), taking a break from league action to face Newtown in the fourth round of the JD Welsh Cup.