A five-star performance secures the points against Flint Town United

Match Report

Goals: J. Williams (5), Oteh (14, 55), D. Williams (41), Cieslewicz (72)
Substitutions: Doforo for Marshall (60), McManus for Bradley (60), Cieslewicz for Oteh (60), Brobbel for D. Williams (72), Pask for D. Davies (81)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Brian Jones

The New Saints defeated Flint Town United 5-0 to make it back-to-back victories at Park Hall.

Goals from Jordan Williams, Remi Oteh and Dan Williams gave The Saints a commanding half-time lead, before Oteh and Adrian Cieslewicz increased the advantage in the second 45.

As a result, Craig Harrison’s side climbed to third in the JD Cymru Premier table, and sit nine points off the top with three games in hand.

It was a fast start from the defending champions and it took less than five minutes before they broke the deadlock at Park Hall.

After a good run down the left by Remi Oteh, the former Walsall man crossed for Jordan Williams to stroke home from inside the six-yard box.

With 13 minutes on the clock, the visitors could’ve grabbed an equaliser, but Connor Roberts pulled off a smart save inside the penalty area to deny Florian Yonsian.

Seconds later, The Saints were back down the other end of the pitch, but Oteh watched his close-range effort cannon back off the post.

Craig Harrison’s side did score their second goal from the same passage of play, however.

After Ben Clark’s strike from the edge of the box was parried by the goalkeeper, Oteh was on hand to volley home acrobatically from close-range to make the score 2-0.

In the 21st minute, it was almost three for The New Saints, but Jordan Williams couldn’t hit the target from the edge of the six-yard box.

Clark then went close with a lobbed effort with 32 minutes played, before Williams again curled wide from the outside the penalty area.

Four minutes before the break, however, The Saints were celebrating a third goal courtesy of Dan Williams.

Receiving the ball from Jordan Marshall 12 yards from goal, the former Swansea City hit the shot first time, and it proved too powerful to prevent for Jack Flint in the visiting goal.

The scoring resumed quickly after the restart, as Oteh bagged his second of the game in the 55th minute.

Showing great composure inside the penalty area, the number 15 rounded the goalkeeper before slotting home into the empty net.

Four minutes later, Clark almost got his name on the scoresheet, as a smart backheel from close-range almost crept into the far corner.

In the 70th minute, an Adrian Cieslewicz effort was saved by visiting goalkeeper, Flint, but there was no denying the second-half substitute two minutes later.

Drifting into space at the back post, the Polish winger connected with Josh Daniels’ inviting cross from the right and sent a powerful header past the goalkeeper.

That was that in terms of the scoring, meaning a 5-0 victory for The New Saints, who climbed to third in the JD Cymru Premier table as a result.

With Penybont dropping points against Cardiff Met University, it means Craig Harrison’s side will go top should they win all of their games in hand.

This Friday though (October 18), it’s a departure from league action for The Saints, as Llangollen Town visit Park Hall in the second round of the JD Welsh Cup.