The New Saints 3-1 Connah’s Quay Nomads: McManus double downs Nomads
OSWESTRY, WALES - 21 JANUARY 2022: The New Saints' Declan Mcmanus scores and celebrates the 1st goal of the game during the JD Cymru Premier league fixture between The New Saints F.C & Connah's Quay Nomads F.C at Park Hall Stadium, January 21st, 2022, Oswestry, Wales. (Pic By John Smith/FAW)
The New Saints went 15 points clear above Newtown for the time being after a 3-1 victory over Connah’s Quay Nomads.
A brace for Declan McManus and a Ben Clark goal sealed the three points for Anthony Limbrick’s team. John Disney hit a consolation from the penalty spot for Nomads at the start of the second-half.
The away-side dominated a lot of the play early on, however Saints got the goals against the run of play to get a two-goal lead at the break. Play was even in the second forty-five as a penalty for each side was converted.
The league leaders are now 20 points clear of the back-to-back Cymru Premier winners in the table.
Connah’s Quay had the first chance of the game in the fourth minute, Craig Curran hit the ball in the 18-yard area that went straight to Paul Harrison who collected the opportunity with ease.
Five on, Kris Owens chipped in a good ball for the Nomads, however, no one could get on the end of the cross as Harrison caught the delivery.
The New Saints scored against the run of play after ten minutes into the match. Ryan Brobbel whipped in a ball that found Declan McManus who headed at goal, with the chance initially saved by Oliver Byrne, but McManus was then there on the follow up to tap the Oswestry-based side into the lead.
The Saints doubled their lead in the 27th minute. A ball got whipped in from the left once more that found Ben Clark just inside the box, Clark then managed to curl a brilliant effort past Byrne’s top-right.
Just past the half-hour mark, it was almost a third as Brobbel hit a shot from outside the penalty area that Byrne managed to stop.
Jordan Williams got on the end of a cross and headed the ball in the net, but Lee Evans disallowed the goal for a foul by the TNS winger.
With just a few minutes left in the opening forty-five, Paulo Mendes got a shot away in the box for Craig Harrison’s Nomads, though Mendes couldn’t trouble the defence as the chance hit the side netting.
On the stroke of half-time, the 13-time Cymru Premier champions had another goal disallowed. McManus crossed a ball into Williams who netted in but was just offside.
In the opening minute of the second half, Jon Routledge took down Jamie Insall, straight after Lee Evans pointed to the spot. John Disney then stepped up in the following moments and scored the penalty into the bottom-left.
Soon after at the other end, Danny Holmes brought down McManus, Evans pointed to the spot once more. McManus then stepped up and netted in the centre of the goal in the 49th minute.
Before the hour mark, Insall hit the ball in the 18-yard area that skied over the goal and almost beyond the ground.
A few minutes on, a similar effort from former Saints player Aeron Edwards went over Harrison’s net.
The final chance came from Brobbel when the midfielder hit a ball from 25-yards out which Byrne just about prevented from going in the goal.
The New Saints: Paul Harrison, Ryan Astles, Jon Routledge, Ryan Brobbel (Leo Smith 88’), Declan McManus, Danny Redmond, Blaine Hudson, Alex Denny, Jordan Williams (Louis Robles 74’), Ben Clark (Adrian Cieslewicz 63’), Danny Davies.
Goals: Declan McManus 12’ 49’, Ryan Brobbel 31’.
Yellow cards: Danny Redmond 68’, Louis Robles 77’.
Connah’s Quay Nomads: Oliver Byrne, John Disney, Ryan Harrington, George Horan, Paulo Mendes, Jamie Mullan, Jamie Insall (Aron Williams 84’), Danny Holmes, Kris Owens, Craig Curran (Connor Simpson 54’), Aeron Edwards.
Goal: John Disney 47’.
Yellow cards: John Disney 17’, Danny Holmes 48’.
