Draper’s treble sees Saints bounce back
GREG Draper’s second-half hat-trick helped The New Saints bounce back from their home defeat by Cardiff Met with a comprehensive 5-0 win at Cefn Druids in the JD Cymru Premier.
Danny Redmond put the champions in front after 26 minutes at the Rock and they were two up by the break through Adrian Cieslewicz nine minutes later.
Draper added a third five minutes after the re-start, with Spender once again providing the assist, before the former then beat Michael Jones with a composed finish on 65 following Jamie Mullan’s pass.
The New Zealand international completed his treble five minutes later from the penalty spot after Mullan had been fouled.
Scott Ruscoe’s side remain a point clear of Connah’s Quay Nomads who were 2-1 victors over Airbus UK Broughton on Deeside.
Jamie Insall put the Nomads ahead after 15 minutes and John Disney doubled the hosts’ advantage in first-half stoppage time with a low 25-yard effort that went in off ‘keeper David Roberts.
That was the way it stayed until ex-Nomad Andy Owens pulled one back against his former club from the penalty spot with 10 minutes remaining, but it wasn’t enough to spark a late comeback.
Meanwhile, it ended a point apiece at Jenner Park where Barry Town United drew 1-1 with Cardiff Met.
Skipper Jordan Cotterill put Barry ahead on five minutes but that was cancelled out by Jordan Lam’s curling effort from the edge of the box 15 minutes later.
Elsewhere, Newtown and Aberystwyth Town played out a goalless draw at Latham Park, while Carmarthen Town beat Penybont 3-2 in a basement battle to move off the bottom.
Curtis Jemmett-Hutson gave Penybont the lead but the Old Gold hit back through Liam Thomas and then a Luke Bowen double.
Matthew Harris pulled one back for Penybont in the second half but they would leave Richmond Park empty handed.
In the late game, Bala leapfrogged hosts Caernarfon into third place in the table thanks to Chris Venables’ 89th minute winner. Venables had put Bala ahead in the 56th minute with Jamie Breeze equalising for Caernarfon in the 83rd minute.