The New Saints make it eight in a row with a 5-0 victory over Flint Town United

Match Report

https://twitter.com/tnsfc/status/2099913097414631550?s=20

Goals: Young (17), Lock (30, 45+1), Jefferies (82), B. Wilson (90+1)
Substitutions: Godsmark-Ford for Simeu (63), Holden for Young (63), Jefferies for Lock (68), B. Wilson for Hughes (77), Nolan for Davies (77)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Craig Thomas/FAW

The New Saints continued their recent superb form by recording a 5-0 victory over Flint Town United.

Craig Harrison’s side took a commanding lead into the half-time break thanks to Brad Young’s first goal of the season and Josh Lock’s brace.

Picking up where they left off in the second period, substitutes Isaac Jefferies and Ben Wilson were both on target late in the game to seal an eighth consecutive victory at Park Hall.

The Saints had their first opening with eight minutes on the clock, but after a good cross from Danny Redmond on the left, Dynel Simeu failed to keep his header on target at the back post.

Lee Fowler’s side were threatening themselves though in the early stages, and in the 13th minute, Isaac Modi sent an effort over off the crossbar after a well-timed run into the penalty area.

With 17 minutes on the clock, Craig Harrison’s side did score the go-ahead goal, and it was Brad Young on target on his first start of the season.

The summer signing drifted into space at the back post, and swept home Danny Redmond’s pinpoint cross with his left foot to make the score 1-0.

The home side continued to cause problems for their visitors, and with half an hour played, they doubled their advantage.

Josh Lock was the man who capitalised on some lax Flint defending, allowing him to race through and slot past the goalkeeper from just inside the area.

It could’ve been three just six minutes before the break, but after the ball dropped kindly to him following a corner, Dan Williams’ powerful effort was blocked on the line.

Flint’s night did go from bad to worse before the end of the opening half though, as the Saints made it three goals to the good in stoppage time.

After Jack Flint pulled off a good initial save to deny Jordan Williams, the goalkeeper wasn’t able to deny the arriving Lock, who grabbed his second of the night with the follow-up effort.

Things continued in much the same fashion following the break, and with 52 minutes on the clock, the league leaders could’ve increased their advantage even further.

A powerful free-kick from Rhys Hughes took a deflection off Jordan Williams to divert the ball towards goal, but once again the goalkeeper pulled off an instinctive save at point-blank range to keep the score down.

With the second period heavily disrupted by a number of substitutions from both sides, chances weren’t as free-flowing as in the first, but the Novira Cymru Premier champions still looked dangerous.

In the 70th minute, Rhys Hughes fired over from the edge of the area, before the former Connah’s Quay Nomads man forced Flint into a flying save down to his left.

However, eight minutes from time, Harrison’s side did grab their fourth, and substitute Isaac Jefferies was the man to do so.

After cutting inside from the left to create space for a shot, the number 37’s effort took a wicked deflection off Flint defender Lee Jonas to wrong-foot the goalkeeper and increase his side’s grip on the game.

In the first of four stoppage-time minutes, another substitute, Ben Wilson, got in on the act, as he was arriving into the six-yard box to benefit from Jordan Williams’ cutback to seal an eighth consecutive Novira Cymru Premier victory with his left foot.

The New Saints are back in action at Park Hall on Saturday, welcoming Llandudno in the Novira Cymru Premier.

Kick-off at Park Hall is scheduled for 5:30pm.