Newtown 1-4 The New Saints: Limbrick’s side put four past valiant Robins
The New Saints got their Cymru Premier campaign off to an impressive start with a 4-1 win over Newtown in front of the returning fans at Latham Park.
A close-range finish from Ben Clark gave the Saints the lead, only for Aaron Williams’ debut goal to equalise for the hosts.
Anthony Limbrick’s side showed their quality in the second period, as goals from Declan McManus and Blaine Hudson following well-executed set-pieces put them in the ascendancy.
With the Saints’ front-line looking threatening throughout, Jordan Williams deservedly got himself on the scoresheet to add a fourth.
Limbrick will see the victory as the perfect way to bounce back from a heartbreaking loss on penalties to Viktoria Plzeň in the Europa Conference League.
The visitors, looking to re-gain the Cymru Premier title from back-to-back winners Connah’s Quay Nomads, showed their strength in depth, claiming a win having made three changes to the line-up in midweek.
Despite a valiant display, last season’s play-off winners Newtown, fall to defeat in their opening game.
The Robins started brightly, looking to press with intensity and force the Saints into mistakes.
It was Limbrick’s side who went close early-on however, with Jordan Williams, a summer signing from Stockport County, heading Adrian Cieslewicz’s corner narrowly wide.
The Saints operated with a front three of Cieslewicz, Williams, and McManus, but were defended well in the early stages by a centre-back partnership of Kieran Mills-Evans and Callum Roberts, along with Craig Williams and Naim Arsan as full-backs.
Chris Hughes’ side also posed a threat on the break, as James Rowland found Williams on the right, whose dangerous low cross could only be gathered at the second attempt by Paul Harrison, with Lifumpa Mwandwe lurking at the back post.
The New Saints showed their quality however and clinically took the lead in the 24th minute.
Williams, who looked a danger on the right throughout, ghosted past Arsan and squared for Clark to tap home the opening goal.
The Saints had their tails up and searched for a swift second, with McManus being played-in, only to uncharacteristically fire over the woodwork.
Limbrick’s men were almost punished for not taking the opportunity, as the lively Rowland got in behind the defence and squared across goal, but captain Chris Marriott was in the perfect position to clear the danger.
Newtown weren’t to be denied, however, as they found an equaliser in the 40th minute.
An excellent run from Mwandwe on the right found James Davies in the box, whose initial effort was parried out by Harrison, allowing Williams.
With the Robins striker scoring on his Cymru Premier debut following his move from AFC Telford, the two sides went into the break level.
The Saints came out of the blocks for the second-half in rapid fashion and were rewarded for doing so, as they regained the lead in the 49th minute.
Cieslewicz’s dangerous corner delivery was headed onto the woodwork by Hudson, but McManus was on-hand to tap home the rebound.
Referee Bryn Markham-Jones was then called into action, as Danny Davies went down at the back post from Cieslewicz’s corner, but no penalty was awarded.
The Saints continued to pose a huge threat from set-pieces and stretched their advantage in the 57th minute.
Winger Cieslewicz’s deliveries were pinpoint throughout, as his corner was headed powerfully home by Hudson.
Newtown responded well to falling further behind and went close to reducing the deficit.
The lively Mwandwe beat the offside trap and rounded Harrison in the Saints goal, only for Louis Bradford to deny him a chance to shoot.
The Robins went close through Mwandwe once again, as the winger met captain Williams’ free-kick, but headed wide of the post.
Limbrick’s side were clinical however and added to their lead in the 75th minute, with Williams capping off an impressive display with a finish at the back post to add a fourth.
With a clinical display, the Saints bounced back from their midweek heartbreak by sealing a resounding win.
The New Saints will look to build on their opening weekend victory when they host Caernarfon Town, while Newtown travel to Penybont in their next fixture.
Newtown: Dave Jones, Callum Roberts, Kieran Mills-Evans, Lifumpa Mwandwe, James Davies (David Cotterill 82’), Aaron Williams, James Rowland, Craig Williams ©, George Hughes, Jake Walker (Jordan Evans 73’), Naim Arsan
Goals: Aaron Williams 40’
Yellow Cards: James Davies 30’
The New Saints: Paul Harrison, Chris Marriott ©, Jon Routledge, Declan McManus, Daniel Redmond (Leo Smith 69’), Adrian Cieslewicz (Louis Robles 69’), Blaine Hudson, Jordan Williams, Ben Clark, Danny Davies (Ash Baker 80’), Louis Bradford
Goals: Ben Clark 24’, Declan McManus 49’, Blaine Hudson 57’, Jordan Williams 75’
Yellow Cards: Jordan Williams 47’, Chris Marriott 67’
Newtown manager Chris Hughes: “I think the first-half performance was very good. I thought the shape was very good. We probably shaded it on chances created, but we conceded two identical goals in six minutes and goals change games.
Then, we’re 3-1 down with them not really creating anything, we were up against it because they’re a good team.
“The fourth goal was a really poor goal from us, because, at 3-1, we had four or five corners, some free-kicks, forced them to defend, and didn’t take our chances. The momentum drifted away from us, but bar the six-minute period in the second-half where they scored two goals, I don’t think there was much in the game.”
Robins winger James Davies: “They’re a very good side. They had a lot of the ball, we expected that to be the case.
“Unfortunately, we conceded from two set-pieces in the second half, which is hard, because you work hard to make sure they don’t break you down, and to concede from two set-pieces is tough to take. I think we got back into the game and had a few chances, but the fourth goal killed us.”
