TNS go six points clear
THE New Saints skipper Chris Marriott has pledged his side will not get carried away with their six-point lead at the top of the JD Cymru Premier league after picking up a rare win at the Deeside Stadium.
Their 1-0 triumph at the home of the back-to-back champions Connah’s Quay Nomads was only their second in their last seven visits and it was a Declan McManus penalty that earned them the three points to extend their unbeaten run to eight games.
The game between the two great rivals was full of incident and controversy, but ended with the Nomads suffering a 1-0 defeat for the third time in their last four games.
They are now 13 points behind the leaders in eighth place.
“We are a quarter of the way through the season, but the way our league works with the split it means we have to play the top teams two more times anyway,” said Marriott.
“We’ve made a good start, but we’ll keep our feet on the ground and keep going.
“It’s always a tough place to come and it is always a battle. We competed with them physically and then at times we had spells of good football.
“There was a little bit of hesitancy from the referee over the penalty, but he gave it in the end and Declan is very good at putting them away.
“It was a horrible feeling when they thought they had scored with the last kick of the game.
“Then the linesman called over the referee and we thought it might be disallowed – it was nice to get a decision here because over the last few seasons they have gone against us a bit.”
For their part the Nomads felt aggrieved at both key decisions made by the team of officials. Declan Poole’s goal at the death was ruled out for an offside decision by the linesman.
“They were both very harsh decisions against us.
We have been on the wrong side of some very small margins all season and we need to dust ourselves down and not feel sorry for ourselves,” said new Nomads boss Craig Harrison.
Cefn Druids’ 1-1 draw at Bala Town made it an even better day for The New Saints as it meant their nearest rivals, who they faced at Park Hall last night after the Mail went to press, dropped two points.
Welsh international David Edwards gave Bala a great start when he tapped in from close range after good work by his skipper Chris Venable to bag his fourth goal of the league campaign.
But the game didn’t go to script after that as Charley Edge conjured up an equaliser to end a run of seven successive defeats for the Ancients and earn them their first point of the season in a 1-1 draw.
Newtown notched their second win of the month as they built on their 3-0 win at Barry Town United with a 3-1 triumph at Latham Park against Penybont. When the two teams met in Bridgend at the start of the season it ended 1-1, but two first half goals put Newtown firmly in command. Aaron Williams converted an 18th minute penalty and then the same player assisted Nick Rushton to double the home advantage five minutes before the break.
It was a frustrating opening period for the visitors, who had manager Rhys Griffiths booked on the touchline and also picked up three more yellows.
Keane Watts scored five minutes after coming on in the second half to throw Penybont a lifeline, but
Rushton’s second goal of the game ensured there were no slip-ups from the home team.
Barry Town United got off to a flying start at the Essity Stadium against Flint Town United as Jordan Cotterill scored the opening goal within two minutes of the start with a delightful chip over the goalkeeper.
But third-placed Flint hit back at the end of the firsthalf to take the lead with two goals in a three- minute purple patch. Jack Kenny scored the first and then turned provider for the second as Mark Cadwallader sent the home side into the break 2-1 to the good.
That lead didn’t last long as Kayne McLaggon scored three minutes into the second half to level things up. Cotterill sent him through clear on goal and he finished with real style, but Ben Maher grabbed the winner five minutes from time.
Ben Fawcett and Kieran Lewis provided the second half goals that earned Haverfordwest County three points on the road at Cardiff Met in a 2-0 triumph.