The New Saints 0-0 Caernarfon Town: Title push dented as nine-man Cofi’s hold Saints
Oswestry, England 2 April 2021. JD Cymru Premier match between The New Saints and Caernarfon Town, played at Park Hall, Oswestry. Credit: Will Cheshire / Y Clwb Pêl-Droed
The New Saints’ title push was halted after nine-man Caernarfon Town held them to a goalless draw at Park Hall.
Greg Draper missed a penalty that was earned after Gruffydd John’s sending off, halfway through the second half. Jack Kenny was later sent off for two bookable offences.
Blaine Hudson also had a goal disallowed for a foul in the third minute of stoppage time to add to their frustrations.
The Saints dominated the match for 90 minutes as a couple of debatable decisions left the game in a stalemate. Nothing can be taken away from Lewis Brass who made terrific saves during tonight’s 0-0.
The result leaves TNS two points a drift of Connah’s Quay who play their game in hand against Bala Town at Maes Tegid tomorrow. Caernarfon close the gap to seven points on fifth place Barry Town United.
In just the third minute of the game, a ball was whipped into top scorer Greg Draper who found the back of the net. However, the Saints’ forward was offside.
Draper was in again not long after as Jamie Mullan crossed a ball into the 18-yard area with the forward connecting as Lewis Brass saved the attempt.
Just after the half hour mark, Mullan whipped a ball into the box as Draper managed to connect with a header, though Brass caught the opportunity at goal.
On the stroke of half-time, Ryan Brobbel had a shot from within the penalty area that just went wide of the post.
At the start of the second forty-five, a ball got whipped into the box to Keston Davies for Anthony Limbrick’s team with Davies connecting and Brass making a superb save on his left.
Five minutes later, Danny Redmond had a chance from just outside the box as Brass made a save once more.
Later on, Ryan Brobbel had a shot blocked off the line from Huw Griffiths’s defence.
A minute later, a Canaries ball got whipped into Michael Hayes who headed over Paul Harrison’s net.
Nine minutes later, Louis Robles was brought down in the box and the referee blew his whistle for a penalty with Gruffydd Williams being sent off for bringing him down.
Straight after Greg Draper stepped up and missed from the spot as it went wide of the post on the keepers left side.
At the start of stoppage time Jack Kenny got sent off for descent with Caernarfon going down to nine men.
In the third minute of stoppage time Blaine Hudson thought he scored a header, but the referee disallowed the goal for a foul.
In the dying moments of the game Adam Roscrow had a header at goal for TNS with Brass making another fantastic in the match to keep it goalless.
TNS will now face Connah’s Quay Nomads on Saturday at the Deeside Stadium.
Caernarfon Town will face Penybont at home on the same day.
The New Saints: Paul Harrison, Keston Davies, Jon Routledge, Ryan Brobbel, Greg Draper (Adam Roscrow 86’), Danny Redmond, Jamie Mullan, Ryan Harrington, Ryan Astles, Leo Smith (Louis Robles 60’), Tom Holland (Ben Clark,86’).
Yellow Cards: Jamie Mullan 40’, Jon Routledge 45+2’.
Caernarfon Town: Lewis Brass, Gruffydd Williams, Gareth Edwards, Sion Bradley, Paulo Mendes, Michael Hayes, Darren Thomas, Ryan Williams, Jack Kenny, Jacob Bickerstaff, Max Cleworth.
Yellow Cards: Darren Thomas 43’, Lewis Brass 90’.
Red Cards: Gruffydd Williams 77’, Jack Kenny 90’.
