Louis Robles netted a brace as The New Saints inflicted a heavy 6-0 defeat on Flint Town United at the Essity Stadium.
Robles scored twice in four minutes to give the Saints a four-goal cushion after Ben Clark and Ryan Astles scored within a minute of each other.
Adrian Cieślewicz scored his 50th goal in TNS colours to make it five before the break, with Ryan Brobbel – who returned to the field after a seven-month lay-off through injury – finding the net in the second period to cap off a convincing win for the Park Hall outfit.
The victory sees the Oswestry side move to within three points of league leaders Connah’s Quay Nomads, with Flint remaining in the bottom two.
The hosts came into this game on the back of an impressive, confidence-boosting 2-1 win away at Penybont last week. The New Saints were also in buoyant mood after their 5-0 routing of Cefn Druids last time out.
After a fairly even opening five minutes, the visitors went ahead when Cieślewicz’s shot, after a one-two with Chris Marriott, was parried into the path of Clark to strike into an empty net.
The opening goal would signal the beginning of a chaotic seven-minute spell that saw the Saints find the net a further three times.
Adrian Cieślewicz provided assists for three of the Saints’ six goals. (Photo: John Smith/FAW)
Firstly, defender Ryan Astles powered a header past Jon Rushton, before Louis Robles netted twice – firstly slotting in after a good ball from Cieślewicz, who assisted each of the opening three goals, and then meeting Marriott’s cross with a header into the far corner.
The hosts struggled to carve out any chances of note in the first-half. Alex Jones, the captain for the day, had a shot from distance which never troubled Paul Harrison in the Saints goal.
Experienced striker Greg Draper, who grabbed five goals the last time the sides met, nearly made it 5-0 to the visitors when he turned in the box and hit a powerful shot, but Rushton saved well.
The former champions continued to apply pressure as the half progressed, and it paid off when Silkmen defender Sam Hart made an error at the back, allowing Draper to play Cieślewicz through, and the Pole hit a powerful drive past Rushton to complete his half century of strikes in the green and white jersey.
Neil Gibson’s side had the first chance of the second-half when January signing Josh Amis controlled the ball on the edge of the box and hit a curling effort which went narrowly wide.
It was a busy day between the sticks for Flint goalkeeper Jon Rushton. (Photo: Lewis Mitchell/Penybont FC)
The Saints replaced Cieślewicz with Brobbel at the interval, and he made an instant impact when he played a one-two with Draper on the edge of the area and hit a powerful drive past the despairing Rushton at his near post.
Sergeant’s side were, understandably, content to settle on their handsome lead and dictate the tempo for the remainder of the second-half.
The next real chance came with 15 minutes left in the game, when Brobbel collected the ball and shot from range, but Rushton – who had a busy afternoon – saved well.
Flint substitute Mark Cadwallader couldn’t direct his effort goalwards in the closing stages, as the Saints secured a clean sheet to round off an impressive afternoon.
Flint Town United: John Rushton, Sam Hart, Eddie Clarke, Ben Nash, Josh Amis (Mason Jones, 88), Alex Jong, Callum Bratey, Ross Weaver (Mark Cadwallader, 73), Ellis Gumbs, Tom Weir (Jordan Buckley, 69), Tom Kemp
The New Saints: Paul Harrison, Simon Spender, Chris Marriott (C), Jon Routledge (Leo Smith, 69), Greg Draper, Danny Redmond, Adrian Cieslewicz (Ryan Brobbel, 46), Blaine Hudson, Ryan Astles, Louis Robles, Ben Clark
Goals: Ben Clark 7, Ryan Astles 8, Louis Robles 12, 16, Adrian Cieślewicz 43, Ryan Brobbel 52′
Find out how the action unfolded with our live blog:
Leave a Reply