The New Saints defeat Flint Town United 5-1 to book their place in the third round of the Nathaniel MG Cup

Match Report

Goals: Afful (13), Smith (24), Woollam (26), Morris (58), Bradley (81) [P]
Substitutions: Blayney for Smith (46), Clayton for McGahey (46), Blaze for Johnston (74), Spender for Hudson (82), Davies-Sewell for Bradley (87)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: F28.Online

The New Saints booked their place in the third round of the Nathaniel MG Cup after a 5-1 victory against Flint Town United.

Caleb Afful, Leo Smith, Ben Woollam, Jake Morris and Sion Bradley were all on target for Craig Harrison’s side, who got their domestic campaign off to the perfect start at Park Hall.

Next up for the JD Cymru Premier champions is a trip to Moldova, as they take on FC Petrocub on Tuesday in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League.

Despite a strong start by the visitors, it was Craig Harrison’s side who took the lead with 13 minutes on the clock.

Making his first team debut, Caleb Afful capitalised on a goalkeeping mistake to steal the ball on the edge of the penalty area, before sending a composed finish into the back of an empty net.

Six minutes later, Sion Bradley, also making his first start after signing from Caernarfon Town, had an effort well saved as he surged into the box down the left.

In the 24th minute, the Nathaniel MG Cup holders doubled their advantage, with Leo Smith beating the visiting goalkeeper with a superb strike from distance.

Less than 120 seconds later, things got even better for The Saints too, as Ben Woollam turned home Smith’s left-sided cross to make the score 3-0 in favour of his side.

On the stroke of half-time, Bradley went close to extending the lead further with an edge of the box free-kick, but the midfielder’s effort was narrowly over the crossbar.

The visitors came back into the game following the restart, and Lee Fowler’s side enjoyed a number of chances in the early stages of the second-half.

Monimon Yousian and Ben Wynne both had opportunities to work Jack Edwards, but the former’s effort was comfortably saved, before the latter cleared the crossbar.

With 58 minutes on the clock, however, Harrison’s side extended their advantage further, and put the second round tie to bed.

Beating several defenders on the left of the penalty area, Bradley picked out Jake Morris with a well-placed cross, and the TNS number 72 volleyed home from the edge of the six-yard box to score his first goal for the senior team.

The Silkmen were given a lifeline thirteen minutes from time when captain, Harry Owen, headed home from a corner, but it proved in the end to be nothing more than a consolation.

In the 81st minute, The Saints restored their four-goal advantage from the penalty spot thanks to Sion Bradley’s first goal for the club, and 5-1 is how things ended at Park Hall.

The Saints will now have their attention firmly fixed on the UEFA Europa League, as they travel to Moldova to face FC Petrocub in the third qualifying round on Tuesday, August 6th.