CHAMPS TNS EYE UP OWN RECORD

THE NEW SAINTS swept to their 16th JD Cymru Premier title with six games left to play after a 25th win of their unbeaten campaign, beating Cardiff Met 4-0.

After second-placed Connah’s Quay Nomads lost 1-0 at Bala Town on Friday the focus at Park Hall turned to winning the title.

“This is what we work hard for all every day, every week and all season. We have had a fantastic lead for a while but we knew it wasn’t done yet,” said Harrison.

They had already won the Nathaniel MG Cup and are in the semi-final draw of the JD Welsh Cup, which they hold, and will meet Airdrieonians in the final of the SPFL Trust Trophy final at Falkirk Stadium on 24 March.

They are also hot on the heels of their own Guinness Book of Records landmark of 27 consecutive wins – this was their 23rd triumph on the trot.

Brad Young got the party started with the first two goals as TNS raced into a 3-0 interval lead. That brace took his season’s tally to 21 in all competitions and he went on to clinch his fourth hat-trick of the season. The third goal of the first half came from Ben Clark.

A George Newell penalty paved the way for Bala Town to close the gap on Nomads to ten points as they beat the team immediately ahead of them in the table 1-0.

The former Everton scholar struck in the 56th minute. It was his 17th goal of the season in 30 matches in all competitions.

Now the race is on to try to catch the Nomads with six games and 18 points still to play for.

It was only the sixth league defeat of the season for the Nomads and they could take some revenge before the season ends as both are still in the hat for the semi-final draw of the Welsh Cup along with holders The New Saints and Cardiff Met.

In the other game in the top tier between Caernarfon Town and Newtown went the way of the home side as Dan Gosset’s effort split the two teams and allow the Cofis to leapfrog Cardiff Met.

In the Play-Off Championship,

Pontypridd United reacted superbly well to having a further three points deducted from them for administrative problems by winning 1-0 at Penybont.

Jan Maertens was the hero for the visitors as he struck in the 83rd minute. It meant for the second week running they climbed out of the relegation zone as they picked up their fifth win in their last seven outings.

Bottom side Colwyn Bay picked up a precious home point from a 0-0 draw against

Haverfordwest County, while

Aberystwyth Town had a Ben Woollam goal to thank for a 1-1 draw with