The New Saints start phase two off with a victory at the Essity Stadium with a 2-1 win over Flint Town United.
All the goals came in the second half, Jordan Williams scored at the start, as then Callum Bratley equalised before Danny Davies got the winner just before the hour mark.
It was a classic game of two halves as Neil Gibson’s side were on top for the majority of the first forty-five with the Oswestry based team being resilient in defence. In the second forty-five the 13-time Cymru Premier champions looked a different side and proved that with the goals.
The result see’s Saints move to 60 points and 23 clear above Bala Town at the time of writing. Meanwhile, the Silkmen stay on 35 points in fifth place.
Anthony Limbrick’s team will next be in action on Tuesday night at Park Hall Stadium against Bala Town.
Neil Gibson’s side are next playing against Bala Town at Maes Tegid a week today.
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The first opportunity of the match came in the fourth minute for Flint Town United. Jake Phillips had a curling effort from outside the box that was going in to Paul Harrison’s top left corner. The Saints keeper was there at the last second to palm away the attempt.
Four on, Phillips whipped in a ball for the Silkmen from a free-kick 20-yards out that found Ben Nash in the box. The no.5 headed just wide of the post.
In the 13th minute of the game, Ryan Brobbel had an effort from outside the 18-yard area that forced Jonathan Rushton in to a save on his bottom-left.
A minute later, Danny Davies whipped in a ball to Louis Robles who headed an attempt straight at Rushton as the keeper caught the ball.
In the 23rd, Adrian Cieslewicz hit a shot from 25-yards out that went wide of Rushton’s post.
Ten later Flint were back on the attack, a delivery from outside the box found Sam Hartley in the box, the defender had a header that hit the crossbar and cleared.
Moments on, Callum Bratley had a shot in the box that went wide of the post.
Not long before the break, Robles hit the ball from outside the penalty area, but Rushton was there to collect.
At the start of the second forty-five TNS took the lead., Jordan Williams hit a curling effort from outside the box in to Rushton’s top-right corner of the net..
In the 51st minute, Hart centred a ball in the box to Mark Cadwallader who had a shot blocked from Ryan Astles off the line.
A minute on the home team equalised. Bratley hit a shot from close range from a throw in that was flicked on which went past Harrison’s bottom-left.
In the 58th minute, a delivery from the right side of the pitch found Robles in the box who headed on target as Rushton was forced in to a brilliant stop.
The Oswestry based side took the lead for a second time in the game a minute on. A cross from Alex Denny found Danny Davies at the back post with the defender getting a header away that found the back of the net.
With just over twenty minutes left in the encounter, Phillips found Michael Wilde from a corner. The former TNS man headed over the crossbar.
In the 69th minute, Leo Smith had an attempt from 20-yards out that powered over the crossbar.
Four later, Brobbel had a free-kick from 25-yards away that dipped, however just went over Flint’s crossbar once more.
With not long left in the encounter, Brobbel hit another free-kick from 25-yards out that curled all the way to Rushton as the keeper managed to stop the effort.
Flint Town United: Jonathan Rushton, Jake Phillips, Samuel Hart, Ben Nash, Kai Edwards, Alex Jones, Michael Wilde, Mark Cadwallader, Callum Bratley, Dan Roberts (Jack Higgins 89’), Ross Weaver (Sam Duffy 75’).
Yellow cards: Ross Weaver 72’.
Goals: Callum Bratley 52’.
The New Saints: Paul Harrison, Chris Marriott, Ryan Astles, Ryan Brobbel (Keston Davies 90+1’), Declan McManus, Adrian Cieslewicz, Alex Denny, Jordan Williams, Louis Robles, Ben Clark (Leo Smith 51’), Danny Davies.
Goals: Jordan Williams 46’, Danny Davies 59’.
Yellow cards: Alex Denny 10’, Jordan Williams 25’, Paul Harrison 30’, Louis Robles 78’.
Lead image: Brian Jones
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