The New Saints leapfrogged Connah’s Quay Nomads into first place with a 1-0 win at Park Hall this evening.
Louis Robles’ first half goal was enough to give his side all three points as they maintained their 100% record, whilst ending the Nomads’ unbeaten run.
TNS made three changes going into the game, captain Chris Marriot and Blaine Hudson were restored to the defence following injuries, and Dean Ebbe replaced Greg Draper as Scott Ruscoe continued his policy of rotating his strikers. Tom Holland was named on the substitute’s bench following his return from injury.
Nomads were without Mike Wilde, who requires twenty stitches to a split eyebrow on the weekend, and he was replaced by Declan Poole. Aeron Edwards was back in the starting line up against his former club, taking the place of James Owen.
Connah’s Quay were the fastest out the blocks, forcing Paul Harrison into a double save on three minutes. The Saints keeper palmed away Dan Davies’ long range effort and had to react smartly as Aeron Edwards latched onto the rebound.
On the quarter hour, TNS had a shout for a penalty as Dean Ebbe was felled from behind in the box. Referee Simon Evans signalled that the ball was won cleanly and waved away protests.
Clear cut chances were few and far between, with TNS content to allow Connah’s Quay to loft balls into the box and try and catch them on the break. While Edwards sent a shot whistling just inches over the Saints’ bar.
It took until the half hour mark for TNS to register their first shot on goal, a tame effort from distance by Daniel Redmond was easily scooped up by Lewis Brass in the Nomads goal.
Connah’s Quay threatened the TNS goal twice in as many minutes. First Sameron Dool collected the ball in the box, spun and fired a shot narrowly wide, then Dan Davies’ shot deflected off Declan Poole into the relieved arms of Paul Harrison.
TNS found the breakthrough three minutes before half time when Leo Smith’s corner found Jonathan Routledge a few yards outside the box. His speculative effort was diverted in by Louis Robles to give the home side the lead with only their second shot of the game.
The visitors reacted with a couple of chances of their own, Edwards again called on Harrison to make a save, this time with his head, and some head tennis following a Kris Owens cross was cleared up by the Saints’ stopper to preserve the lead going into the break.
The second period continued in the same fashion as the first with Connah’s Quay whipping crosses into the box. Aron Williams, Davies and Dool took it in turns to pump the ball into the danger zone but Blaine and Ryan Astles stood up to the challenge.
Daniel Redmond fell awkwardly in a clumsy challenge and had to leave the pitch to be replaced by Tom Holland.
Two minutes later Davies’ shot was turned behind for a Connah’s Quay corner. Dool’s delivery just missed the head of Priestley Farquharson.
On the hour mark Davies again called Harrison into action with a near post save and Craig Curran blazed over the bar shortly afterwards.
Connah’s Quay piled on the pressure with Dan Davies shooting from distance, only to hit a team mate and loop behind for a goal kick. Davies then met a Dool cross with his head, which Harrison caught.
Farquharson again came close to getting on the end of a delivery, this time an Edwards free kick but TNS scrambled the ball clear.
With fifteen minutes left on the clock, Paul Harrison’s punch from a corner landed in a crowd of players before a shot was struck just wide of his post.
As eighty minutes were on the clock, TNS had their best spell of the game. Marriott’s free kick was headed behind by Callum Morris for a corner which was cleared by Farquharson.
TNS made their second change of the game, bringing on the free scoring Greg Draper to replace Ebbe. Quay pushed Farquharson up front to try and grab a goal for the third game running, leaving space at the back for TNS to exploit.
With three minutes to go, Adrian Cieslewicz nearly made them pay on the break when, in a two on one situation, his shot rattled the post. Brass was on hand to save Draper’s rebound and keep his side in the game.
The fourth official signalled seven minutes of additional time at the end of the ninety and Connah’s Quay fired ball after ball at the TNS penalty area. The defence absorbed the onslaught and Louis Robles very nearly grabbed a second right at the death, but his effort ended up the wrong side of the post.
In the end, the home side hung on for the win, their seventh in as many matches with an equal number of clean sheets to match.
The three points lift the Saints above the champions into first place with a game in hand. It’s still early days but in the championship race, it’s advantage TNS.
See how the Saints claimed top spot here:
(Featured Image: Nikitas Mesney/Connah’s Quay Nomads)
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