Six of the best: Saints continue momentum with a third straight victory

Match Report

https://twitter.com/tnsfc/status/1966814538067480683

Goals: J. Williams (10), Wilson (17, 68), Bodenham (47), Davies (83), Own goal (90+1)
Yellow cards: Holden (55)
Substitutions: Owen for McGahey (56), Clark for Corness (56), Jefferies for Brobbel (69), Nadin for Holden (69), Charles for J. Williams (77)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Jamie Edwards/FAW

The New Saints continued their winning momentum and made it three wins from three as they defeated Llanelli Town 6-0 at Park Hall Stadium.

Jordan Williams, Ben Wilson, Jack Bodenham and Danny Davies were all on target for Craig Harrison’s side, with the sixth arriving courtesy of an own goal.

The result leaves the Saints in second place in the JD Cymru Premier table, three points behind leaders Caernarfon Town with seven matches played.

It was a fast start from the defending champions, who made the breakthrough just 10 minutes into the match.

After the Llanelli Town defence failed to deal with Ryan Brobbel’s free-kick from the right, Jordan Williams capitalised on the loose ball, heading past Alex Pennock from the edge of the six-yard box.

Five minutes later, Williams thought he’d scored a second, but after sending the ball in off the crossbar, referee Richard Wright disallowed the goal for a handball in the build-up.

But Craig Harrison’s side didn’t have to wait too long to see their advantage increase. In the 17th minute, a header from Ben Wilson found the back of the net via a deflection, making the score 2-0 in favour of his side.

The chances continued to flow, with Jack Bodenham sending a header over following a corner, before Pennock caught an attempt from Dan Williams.

In the 29th minute, Wilson capitalised on a mistake at the back, only to watch his effort cannon back out off the left post.

Five minutes before the half-time break, there was a further opportunity for Jordan Williams to score his second of the afternoon, but after making a great run into the penalty area, the former Stockport County man failed to get on the end of Wilson’s cross.

It took less than three minutes after the restart for the TNS third to arrive, however, with Jack Bodenham rising highest inside the penalty area to head home Brobbel’s corner.

With 57 minutes played, Brobbel almost helped himself to a goal after winning a free-kick on the edge of the Llanelli Town penalty area.

Stepping up to take the set-piece himself, the Northern Ireland under-21 international’s effort clipped the right post on its way behind, however, with the ball going behind for a goal kick.

Just after the hour mark, substitute Ben Clark volleyed wide from inside the six-yard box, before Jordan Williams had another effort ruled out, this time for an offside.

There was no denying Wilson in the 68th minute, however, as he capitalised on a superb through ball from Dan Williams to make the score 4-0 in favour of the home side.

Seven minutes from time, Danny Davies got in on the act, sending a powerful header past Pennock after meeting substitute Isaac Jefferies’ corner inside the crowded six-yard box.

Then, in the first minute of second-half stoppage time, there was a touch of fortune surrounding the Saints’ sixth goal, as Sam Parsons inadvertently turned another cross from Jefferies past his own goalkeeper.

It was a resounding victory for the defending champions, who recorded their third win in a row and kept up the pressure on Caernarfon Town at the top of the JD Cymru Premier table.

For the Saints, it’s a trip to the capital next weekend, as they visit Cyncoed Campus to take on Cardiff Metropolitan University.

Kick-off is scheduled for 7:45pm on Friday, September 20th.