Brass proved golden for old Nomads pals by denying TNS

LEWIS Brass did his former Connah’s Quay Nomads teammates a favour as he denied their JD Cymru Premier title rivals The New Saints any goals against his new club, Caernarfon Town.

Three days after their 4-1 home defeat to the Nomads, TNS had hoped to get back on level terms at the top of the Championship Conference at Park Hall, but found the visitors in no mood to concede.

Despite going down to nine men before the end of the game, with Gruff John red-carded for pulling back Louis Robles in the 86th minute and then Jack Kenny receiving his marching orders for a second yellow in the 91st minute, Caernarfon held out for a share of the points in a goalless draw.

But it was Brass, playing only his second game in goal for the home side following his departure from the Nomads in November, who was the main cause of the latest downfall for TNS.

With his former club playing at Bala Town last night, they could find themselves up to five points adrift of the reigning champions when they line up against each other again in Deeside on Saturday.

TNS had two goals disallowed during a game that was brimming with chances for them, but it was the brilliance of Brass that stopped them getting any more than a point. It also stopped a run of six successive defeats for Huw Griffiths’ side.

Greg Draper found the net early on for TNS, but had his strike ruled out for offside, and then went on to miss a penalty.

Blaine Hudson’s lastgasp header was then ruled out for a foul.

Brass dived full length to deny Keston Taylor, Max Cleworth cleared off the line and Brass ended proceedings in the seventh minute of added time by somehow keeping out an Adam Roscrow header and then clearing off the line when Robles looked set to score.

Penybont created clear daylight between themselves and Barry Town United with a goal in each half in a 2-0 home win.

They are now six points adrift of third-placed Bala thanks to goals scored by Nathan Wood and Kane Owen.

In the Play-Off Conference, Newtown have a three-point lead over Haverfordwest County, who slipped to yet another defeat.

They went down 2-0 at home to Cardiff Met, while the Robins were 1-0 winners at Latham Park over Flint Town United thanks to another goal from Jordan Evans.

In the other game, bottom of the table Cefn Druids were hammered 5-1 at Aberystwyth Town and are now nine points behind Flint and 12 off Cardiff Met.