JD CYMRU PREMIER LEAGUE

THE New Saints sent a shot across the bows of Bala Town two weeks before they clash in the JD Welsh Cup final in Bangor as they beat them 2-0 in their penultimate game in the JD Cymru Championship Conference.

To their credit, the Lakesiders put up a strong fight on home soil and frustrated the league champions throughout a goalless first half. Then two goals in three minutes completely changed the game.

Eleven minutes after the break the deadlock was finally brokenwhen Declan McManus steered the ball home. Two minutes later, Ryan Brobbel converted another close-range effort to double the lead.

Connah’s Quay Nomads and Penybont played out a goalless draw at the Deeside Stadium to confirm the Nomads will finish as runners-up and take the second automatic European place.

In the Play-Off Conference, table leaders Haverfordwest County hung on to claim a 1-1 draw at home against Aberystwyth Town despite having to play the final 17 minutes with only 10 men after Kyle Patten received a straight red card.

The point was enough to ensure they will finish which should earn them a place in the battle for the final Europa League qualification spot, although the FAW have yet to confirm their Tier 1 licence for next season.

The result leaves Aberystwyth needing to beat Caernarfon Town in their final game to try to escape the drop.

Flint Town United gave their chances of beating relegation a considerable boost with a 3-1 win at Airbus UK Broughton. After taking a fourth-minute lead through skipper Dan Harrison, the Silkmen saw Adam Davies whip in a shot from just outside the area that struck the post, but bounced kindly for Beau Cornish level matters a minute into the second half.

That raised the tension in the visiting ranks, before two goals from Okera Simmonds and JeanLouis Akpa-Akpro in as many minutes put Flint back in control.

Flint now have two games left, one of which will be the re-scheduled clash with Caernarfon Town that was abandoned last week. The teams will play behind closed doors at the Essity Stadium on Wednesday.