The New Saints compounded further misery on Barry Town United with a 4-1 at Jenner Park, handing Gavin Chesterfield’s men a sixth defeat in their last seven games.
Despite the awful conditions at Jenner Park, those in attendance were treated to three goals in the opening 12 minutes of the game.
Midfielder Aeron Edwards hit the back of the net after just four minutes after latching on to Ryan Brobbel’s perfectly-weighted ball.
Kayne McLaggon levelled the score just minutes later after diverting Jon Hood’s shot into an empty net, before Brobbel’s penalty put TNS back in front shortly after.
Dean Ebbe’s second half header from Danny Redmond’s corner made it 3-1 before Jamie Mullan’s wonderful strike from outside the box to move the visitors four points clear of second placed Connah’s Quay Nomads after their 2-0 defeat to Cefn Druids.
Both sides came into the game in mixed form as Town had only recorded two wins since beating TNS in September.
Since suffering defeat at home to the Linnets in September, Scott Ruscoe’s side have won seven of their last nine games, including the record-breaking 12-0 win at Airbus, and opened the scoring inside the first four minutes.
On a wet night in south Wales, goalkeeper George Ratcliffe’s kick was won by Keston Davies, who volleyed they ball into the path of Dean Ebbe.
Ebbe then found Brobbel, and the winger’s delightful flick allowed Edwards the time and space to slot past Radcliffe at his near post.
However, just four minutes later the hosts equalised from a lovely move.
Keyon Reffell started it off by playing in Hood on the right side, where the former Port Talbot man was in acres of space.
The midfielder took aim and saw his shot take a touch as it went past Paul Harrison, with McLaggon lurking and managing to get to the ball before Davies to tap home.
But, there was a further twist to the tale moments later. After Harrington was bought down in the box after a clumsy challenge by Clayton Green, Brobbel stepped up and sent Ratcliffe the wrong way from the spot.
Brobbel went close to adding to his tally with two chances in quick succession.
The midfielder first saw his curling strike from the edge of the area rattle the crossbar before his free kick went just wide.
And just as half time approached, Chris Hugh drew Paul Harrison into a five save.
Cardiff City loanee Ratcliffe showed once again why he is so highly-rated with two crucial saves.
First he got down well to parry Danny Redmond’s shot from the left before he was equal to Jamie Mullan’s close range effort to tip it behind for a corner.
But from the resulting set piece Ruscoe’s men put the game out of Barry’s reach.
Redmond’s delivery was inch-perfect and Ebbe reacted quickest to get in front of Ratcliffe to head home.
With the game drawing to a close, substitute Mullan got himself on the scoresheet, after a fine knock-on by Greg Draper, the midfielder ran with the ball before unleashing a thunderous shot from 25 yards to take the Saints’ goal tally from their last five games to 28.
Barry Town United: George Ratcliffe, Chris Hugh, Luke Cooper, Curtis Watkins, Kayne Mclaggon, Jordan Cotterill (C), Luke Cummings, Jonathan Hood, Keyon Reffell, (Momodou Touray 67) Clayton Green, Evan Press
The New Saints: Paul Harrison, (C), Keston Davies, Jonathan Routledge, Dean Ebbe, (Kurtis Byrne 81) Ryan Brobbel, Daniel Redmond, Adrian Cieslewicz, Blaine Hudson, Joash Nembhard, Aeron Edwards (Greg Draper 83), Ryan Harrington
(Featured image: Brian Jones)
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