📹 @JordsAlexJones post-match thoughts on @Penybont_FC 2-3 @tnsfc pic.twitter.com/uDac299xG9
— Y Clwb Pêl-Droed (@YClwbPelDroed) October 19, 2019
Substitute Kurtis Byrne struck late to deny Penybont a valuable point and earn The New Saints their first Cymru Premier win at the KYMCO Stadium.
TNS were pegged back twice by Penybont with Dan Griffiths and Kane Owen cancelling out goals from Dean Ebbe and Greg Draper.
From off the bench Byrne provided Ruscoe’s men with an 86th-minute deflected strike.
The New Saints dominated proceedings for most of the game with Penybont evidently nervous in the first half. Rhys Griffiths’ side grew into the game in the second half and competed well with the professional outfit.
Draper scored his ninth league goal of the season in the seventh minute to provide an early lead for TNS. Rhys Wilson under-hit a sideward free-kick to Oliver Dalton and the Kiwi-forward stroked the ball into an empty net after cleverly anticipating the play.
Penybont’s nerves were showing as they continued to give away possession cheaply and the clever Draper latched onto it but Dalton denied Draper a quick-fire second.
Dan Griffiths, on loan from Cardiff City, levelled up proceedings from a goal against the run of play. Griffiths pounced on some over-confidence play from the defence and struck a low shot past Paul Harrison.
Despite the equaliser, Penybont’s frailties continued and Dalton almost cost them. Draper exchanged passes with Ryan Brobbel before his tucked-effort was blocked off the line by Owain Warlow.
Blaine Hudson, from a corner-kick, headed from close-range after Chris Marriott pulled the pull-back for his centre-back partner.
Dan Redmond’s precise effort whistled past the post after taking a tough-angled shot.
Rhys Wilson made amends for his earlier error as he tipped over Hudson’s point-blank header.
Ebbe scored in the 46th minute to restore TNS’ lead. Brobbel’s cross was met by Joash Nembhard who touched it on to Ebbe to head past Wilson in the six-yard box.
Hudson, proving to be a true aerial threat, was three times denied by Wilson after meeting Jamie Mullan’s free-kick.
Wilson was forced into action again as he superbly denied Joash Nembhard from close-range.
A determined Kane Owen levelled up the game fro the penalty spot. Chris Marriott handled the ball in the box and Owen drilled it past Harrison.
Owen’s equaliser provided motivation for Penybont and a flurry of chances followed. Curtis Jemmett-Hutson curled over from close range before Owen and Keenan Patten were denied.
Kurtis Byrne, introduced for Jamie Mullan who had also been a substitute, scored late to give TNS the lead for the third time. An uncleared ball fell to Byrne who hit a half-volley through a sea of bodies, deflecting in.
Penybont threw the kitchen sink at TNS in the last few moments and Kostya Georgievsky was controversially deemed to be offside from a cleared ball from Wilson.
The hosts were unable to find a third response and went down fighting to TNS.
New Saints secure their second straight victory against promoted opposition whilst Penybont remain in search of just their second league win of the season.
The victory keeps TNS third, three points off of new-leaders Connah’s Quay Penybont are now four points adrift of Aberystwyth but have a game in hand.
Penybont: Rhys Wilson, Kane Owen, James Saddler, Oliver Dalton, Curtis Jemmett-Hutson, Nathan Wood, Matthew Harris, Daniel Griffiths (Kostya Georgievsky 70), Owain Warlow, Michael George, Keenan Patten (Cullen Kinsella 84)
The New Saints: Paul Harrison, Simon Spender, Chris Marriott, Jon Routledge, Dean Ebbe, Ryan Brobbel, Greg Draper, Dan Redmond, Blaine Hudson, Joash Nehmbard, Billy Whitehouse (Jamie Mullan 59) (Kurtis Byrne 72)
(Image: Brian Jones)
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