The New Saints kick off pre-season campaign with a 5-2 victory against PLAYER

Match Report

Thirty-eight days since their JD Welsh Cup final victory, The New Saints returned to action at Park Hall tonight as they faced PLAYER in their first pre-season friendly.

Choosing to play two different teams in each half, with only goalkeeper Reece Thompson playing the full 90 minutes, it was a chance for head coach Craig Harrison to assess the full range of players at his disposal.

After a strong start, it was the visitors who made the breakthrough with just four minutes played, as Josh Green’s long-range effort went in off the crossbar.

Although play initially continued, as the ball bounced back out after striking the woodwork, after a VAR review, the goal was eventually awarded by the match officials.

The Saints responded well, though, and with 17 minutes on the clock, Dan Williams grabbed an equaliser for the JD Cymru Premier champions following a corner on the right. 

Ten minutes later, Craig Harrison’s side were on target again, and it was summer signing Ken Charles who found the back of the net with a superb volleyed effort.

Just like that, it was three, as Jake Canavan swept home from inside the six-yard box in the 29th after some good work down the right from Jordan Williams.

Taking their 3-1 lead into the interval, the head coach would’ve been content with what he’d seen in the first-half, but it was the visitors who grabbed the game’s next goal 10 minutes into the second.

A long-range effort from Akiljo Balliu caught goalkeeper Reece Thompson off guard, and after another lengthy VAR review, play continued with the score 3-2.

It didn’t take long for the Saints to hit back, though, and just six minutes later, Aramide Oteh headed home at the back post following a pinpoint cross from Danny Redmond.

Seven minutes from time, Oteh found the net again, as he beat the offside trap before calmly rounding the goalkeeper.

The goal survived yet another VAR check, but the former Walsall man was eventually awarded his second of the night, and 5-2 is how it ended at Park Hall.

Starting line-up: Reece Thompson; Leo Smith, Dan Williams, Jack Bodenham, Nathan Doforo; Rory Holden, Jake Canavan; Jordan Williams, Sion Bradley, Ryan Brobbel, Ken Charles

Second-half line-up: Reece Thompson; Trialist, Harrison McGahey, Ryan Astles, Danny Redmond; Josh Lock, Ben Clark; Jack Nadin (Tom Jones 69), Louis Phillips, Zack Clarke, Aramide Oteh