JD Cymru Premier review
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 after picking up a rare win at the Deeside Stadium.
Their 1-0 triumph at back-toback 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 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’ve made a good start, but we’ll keep our feet on the ground and keep going,” said Marriott.
“It’s always a tough place to come and it is always a battle. We competed with them physically and at times we had spells of good football.
“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.”
The Nomads felt aggrieved at both key decisions made by the officials. Declan Poole’s goal at the death was ruled out for offside.
“They were both 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 face at Park Hall tomorrow night, dropped two points.
Welsh international David Edwards gave Bala a great start when he tapped in from close range after good work by skipper Chris Venables to bag his fourth goal of the 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.
Newtown built on their 3-0 win at Barry Town United with a 3-1 triumph at Latham Park against Penybont.
Aaron Williams converted an 18th-minute penalty and Nick Rushton doubled the home advantage five minutes before the break.
Keane Watts scored five minutes after coming on in the second half to throw Penybont a lifeline, but Rushton’s second of the game ensured there were no slip-ups from the home team.
Barry got off to a flying start at the Essity Stadium against Flint Town United as Jordan Cotterill scored within two minutes with a delightful chip over the goalkeeper.
But third-placed Flint hit back at the end of the first half to take the lead with two goals in a threeminute 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. But Ben Maher grabbed Flint’s winner five minutes from time.
Ben Fawcett and Kieran Lewis provided the second-half goals that earned Haverfordwest
County a 2-0 triumph at Cardiff Met.