The New Saints 5-0 Cardiff Met: Saints seven points clear after five-star performance
The New Saints players congratulate Declan McManus. The New Saints v Cardiff Met in the JD Cymru Premier at Park Hall Stadium on the 30th October 2021. Credit: Brian Jones
The New Saints retain their seven points lead at the top with a 5-0 victory over Cardiff Met at Park Hall Stadium.
The Saints got the three points through Blaine Hudson, Ryan Brobbel, Adrian Cieslewicz, and a Declan McManus brace.
In the game, the home-side dominated play throughout the match and deserved all the points.
In the standings, the Oswestry-based side retain their seven-point lead over Flint Town United. Meanwhile, Christian Edwards’ team fall down to sixth in the table.
The first shot at goal for the 13-time Cymru Premier champions was a goal in the 15th minute. Ryan Brobbel whipped in a ball from a corner that found Blaine Hudson who managed to head the chance into the net.
Straight from kick-off, Met then had their first chance of the game. Daniel Warre shot in the box which went wide of the post.
Three minutes later, Declan McManus passed the ball to Danny Redmond who shot from just outside the 18-yard area was the opportunity went off target.
In the 27th minute, Thomas Price had a wild effort for Christian Edwards’ team from 30-yards out that went way wide of The Saints goal.
A couple on, the away-side had another chance when Harry Owen ran in and around The Saints players and shot from just outside the 18-yard area, however Paul Harrison was there to save the chance with ease.
Just past the half-hour mark, TNS took a 2-0 lead when Chris Marriott whipped in a ball from just outside the box that found McManus who managed to connect for the opportunity to be delivered in the net.
Before half-time, Redmond played a ball over the top to McManus who shot in the box as Met’s keeper Alex Lang made a fine stop.
At the start of the second forty-five, TNS found a third. Redmond found an over-the-top ball that found Brobbel at the back post, the Northern Irishman tapped the chance into the net.
Before the hour mark, McManus had a spectacular effort in the box as the Scotsman had an overhead kick that just went wide of the post.
In the 62nd minute, Owen shot in the TNS box, but Harrison was there to make the stop.
TNS got a fourth in the 70th minute, McManus passed the ball across the box to substitute Adrian Cieslewicz who slotted the ball past Lang’s left.
A couple on it was a fifth, Brobbel whipped in a ball that found McManus who got a brace as the Scotsman headed it past Lang’s bottom left corner.
The last chance of the game cam in the 85th minute as McManus looked for his hat-trick when he had an opportunity in the Met 18-yard area that Lang saved.
Anthony Limbrick’s team will now go onto host Haverfordwest County here at Park Hall next week.
Cardiff Met’s next match is at Cyncoed Campus against Caernarfon Town.
The New Saints: Paul Harrison, Chris Marriott, Ryan Astles, Jon Routledge, Ryan Brobbel (Jordan Williams 77’), Declan McManus, Danny Redmond (Jake Canavan 77’), Blaine Hudson, Louis Robles, Ben Clark, Danny Davies.
Goals: Blaine Hudson 15’, Declan McManus 31’ 72’, Ryan Brobbel 51’, Adrian Cieslewicz 70’.
Cardiff Met: Alex Lang, Matthew Chubb, Emlyn Lewis, Thomas Price, Harry Owen, Abe Noad (Brandon Roberts 58’) , Joseph Evans, Chris Craven, Jac Davies, Thomas Davies, Daniel Warre (Liam Warman 73’).
Yellow cards: Chris Craven 54’, Emlyn Lewis 72’.
The New Saints head coach Anthony Limbrick said:
“What pleased me most was that we went in with the lead at half-time, but we really tried to step it up in the second half.
“After going into the break in the last game against Flint we really wanted to try and push on to score those extra goals and that is what we did do today, that is probably the most pleasing bit.
“I do think there is more improvements to be made and there is more to come, but in terms of pushing on and going to the next level, that is what we wanted to do.
“We want to try and make this place (Park Hall Stadium) a fortress, we want to be hard to beat and play good football and try to entertain the fans and I think we did that today and it is good to get some goals on the board and we are pleased with that.”
Lead image: Brian Jones
