Saints gift the points to the Eagles
Saturday 04 February 2012
THE New Saints surrended a one-goal lead to lose 2-1 at home to Neath in a result which could prove crucial game in the Welsh Premier title race.
After working hard to gain some reward for their first-half performance, the Saints gifted the Eagles an equaliser and a goal from defender Jack Lewis sealed the points for Kris O'Leary's men, who are now just three points behind second-placed TNS.
A much-better organised Eagles' side than the one that lost 3-0 in Oswestry in September were able to hold the Saints at bay in the first half, with only Greg Draper threatening.
The striker had one shot deflected just wide, before sending a lob just over the bar from Alex Darlington's lay-off.
Neath's only chance of the opening stanza fell to Craig Hughes, who brought a good save from home keeper Paul Harrison.
Despite a more expansive opening to the second half from the visitors, the Saints took the lead in the 52nd-minute when keeper Lee Kendall was unable to hold Chris Seargeant's cross from the byline and Draper scored from close range.
But the lead lasted only five minutes before a blunder from Steve Evans gifted the equaliser. The defender's weak clearance was seized on by Lee Trundle who took the ball to the left edge of the box before firing into the far corner.
The winner arrived shortly afterwards when Jack Lewis shot from a narrow angle and found the net via a defender's deflection.
It could have been worse for TNS but for keeper Harrison, who pulled-off a superb diving save from a Chris Jones penalty after Phil Baker was adjudged to have brought down Hughes.
And, despite stoppage time efforts from Luke Holden and Darlington, Neath were rarely troubled as they extended their unbeaten run to 12 matches.
Photo: Greg Draper celebrates after giving TNS the lead.
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European record
8 August 1996 / Qualifying Round 1st Leg (Wrexham)
TNS 1-1 KS Ruch Chorzow (Poland)
22 August 1996 / Qualifying Round 2nd Leg (Warsaw)
KS Ruch Chorzow 5-0 TNS
2000/2001 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
12 July 2000 / Qualifying Round 1st Leg (Wrexham)
TNS 2-2 Levadia Maardu (Estonia)
19 July 2000 / Qualifying Round 2nd Leg (Tallin)
Levadia Maardu 2-2 TNS
2001/2 UEFA CUP
9 Aug 2001 / Qualifying round 1st leg (Lodz)
Polonia Warsaw 4-0 TNS
23 Aug 2001 / Qualifying round 2nd leg (Wrexham)
TNS 0-2 Polonia Warsaw
2002/3 UEFA CUP
15 August 2002 / Qualifying round 1st leg (Lodz)
Amica Wronki (Poland) 5-0 TNS
29 Aug 2002 / Qualifying round 2nd leg (Newtown)
TNS 2-7 Amica Wronki
2003/4 UEFA CUP
14 Aug 2003 / Qualifying round 1st leg (Manchester)
Manchester City 5-0 TNS
28 Aug 2003 / Qualifying round 2nd leg (Cardiff)
TNS 0-2 Manchester City
2004/5 UEFA CUP
15 Jul 2004 / Qualifying round 1st leg (Vaxjo)
Osters IF (Sweden) 2-0 TNS
29 Jul 2004 / Qualifying round 2nd leg (Wrexham)
TNS 1-2 Osters IF (Sweden)
2005/6 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
13 Jul 2005 / 1st Qualifying Round 1st Leg (Anfield)
Liverpool 3-0 TNS
19 Jul 2005 / 1st Qualifying Round 2nd Leg (Wrexham)
TNS 0-3 Liverpool
2006/7 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
12 Jul 2006 / 1st Qualifying Round 1st Leg (Anjalankoski)
MyPa-47 1-0 TNS
19 Jul 2006 / 1st Qualifying Round 2nd Leg (Newtown)
TNS 0-1 MyPa-47
2007/8 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
17 Jul 2007 / 1st Qualifying Round 1st Leg (Newtown)
TNS 3-2 FK Ventspils
25 Jul 2007 / 1st Qualifying Round 2nd Leg (Ventspils)
FK Ventspils 2-1 TNS
2008/9 UEFA CUP
17 Jul 2008 / 1st Qualifying Round 1st Leg (Marijampole)
FK Suduva 1-0 TNS
31 Jul 2008 / 1st Qualifying Round 2nd Leg (Newtown)
TNS 0-1 FK Suduva
2009/10 EUROPA LEAGUE
2 Jul 2009 / 1st Qualifying Round 1st Leg (Reykjavik)
FRAM Reykjavik 2-1 TNS
9 Jul 2009 / 1st Qualifying Round 2nd Leg (Oswestry)
TNS 1-2 FRAM Reykjavik
2010 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
13 Jul 2010 / 2nd Qualifying Round 1st Leg (Dublin)
Bohemian 1-0 TNS
20 Jul 2010 / 2nd Qualifying Round 2nd Leg (Oswestry)
TNS 4-0 Bohemian
27 Jul 2010 / 3rd Qualifying Round 1st Leg (Wrexham)
TNS 1-3 Anderlecht
3 Aug 2010 / 3rd Qualifying Round 2nd Leg (Brussels)
Anderlecht 3-0 TNS
2010/11 EUROPA LEAGUE
19 Aug 2010 / 4th Qualifying Round 1st Leg (Sofia)
CSKA Sofia 3-0 TNS
26 Aug 2010 / 4th Qualifying Round 2nd Leg (Wrexham)
TNS 2-2 CSKA Sofia
2011/12 EUROPA LEAGUE
30 Jun 2011 / 1st Qualifying Round 1st Leg (Oswestry)
TNS 1-1 Cliftonville
7 Jul 2011 / 1st Qualifying Round 2nd Leg (Belfast)
Cliftonville 0-1 TNS
14 Jul 2011 / 2nd Qualifying Round 1st Leg (Oswestry)
TNS 1-3 FC Midjtylland
21 Jul 2011 / 2nd Qualifying Round 2nd Leg (Herning)
FC Midtjylland 5-2 TNS