TNS AWAIT BALA TEST IN BATTLE AT THE TOP
IT will be ‘first v second’ at Park Hall on Tuesday night when champions in waiting The New Saints host Bala Town in the JD Cymru Premier League.
The Lakesiders rocketed up to second on the back of a convincing 2-0 win at Newtown as TNS triumphed 2-1 at Flint Town United. Penybont’s 3-0 home defeat to Caernarfon Town meant they dropped out of the European places to allow Bala to step up.
But while there was a jostling of position in the minor placings, TNS are now a mere two wins away from securing a 14th title. They could be crowned champions on Sunday if they can overcome Bala on Tuesday and Penybont, once again at home, on Sunday.
Having brought a massive 21-point lead with them from Phase 1 of the competition, Anthony Limbrick’s men carried on where they had left off by picking up another three points at the start of Phase 2.
Flint put up a hell of a fight, particularly in the first half, and the pressure they imposed forced the visitors to conceded three yellow cards on the field and one off it, to their manager Limbrick, in the first half.
It looked as though an upset might be on the cards, but then Jordan Williams curled a shot into the far corner of the net from the edge of the box after spotting the home keeper out of position. That goal came against the run of play just 40 seconds into the second half.
Flint were rocked, but hit back six minutes later when a long throw-in from Sam Phillips caused problems inside the TNS box and Callum Bratley was on hand to volley home from the edge of the six-yard box.
The champions elect were now back in a dog fight, but they survived thanks to a 59th-minute goal from Dan Davies – his second in as many matches. There were a few heart-in-mouth moments for Limbrick as Flint kept pressing to the end, but his side stayed strong to survive and take the win.
Bala were able to overtake both Flint and Newtown thanks to their 2-0 win at Latham Park. With the race on for a place in Europe next season, the Lakesiders couldn’t have got off to a better start as they moved up into second.
Nathan Peate gave them the lead five minutes before the break and then Newtown conceded a second to the prolific Chris Venables half-an hour later as he notched his 14th goal in all competitions this season.
They may only have been moved up into the Championship Conference this week, but Caernarfon Town made a major impact in their opening game in Phase 2 as they thumped Penybont 3-0 at the SDM Glass Stadium.
Rising to the challenge afforded them by the 18-point deduction applied to reigning champions Connah’s Quay Nomads for playing two ineligible players, they took the lead with a Darren Thomas goal in the 15th minute.
Mike Hayes made it 2-0 at the break with a 37th minute strike and then added a second five minutes from time to complete a magnificent victory.
Nomads were found guilty of two charges after an arbitration hearing relating to the signings of former Wales international Neal Eardley and Portuguese midfielder Paulo Mendes.
Cymru Premier clubs can only sign one free agent between the end of the August transfer window and the start of the January window but it was alleged they broke the rule by signing Eardley in October, having already signed Mendes outside the transfer window on September 2. Nomads insisted Mendes’ signing was completed on August 31, inside the permitted period for bringing players in.
They disputed the charges, brought by the Football Association of Wales so the matter was referred to an independent arbitration panel.
The 18-point deduction sees them drop down to 11th in the table and leaves Craig Harrison’s side in the relegation zone, six points from safety.
In the Play-Off Championship,
Cardiff Met and Connah’s Quay played out a goalless draw, while
Barry Town United’s miserable run continued as they slumped to a 1-0 home defeat to relegation rivals
Haverfordwest County.
Alhagi Touray Sisay put the visitors ahead two minutes into the second half and then the Linnets had Jordan Cotterill sent-off in the 70th minute to make their job even harder.
Bottom-of-the-table Cefn Druids came within a few minutes of notching their first win of the season against Aberystwyth Town as they led 3-2 with 89 minutes played. Then Owain Jones popped up to level for the visitors.