Thursday, May 17, 2012

Neath next-up after Saints despatch the Exiles

TNS v Newport

NEATH are next-up for The New Saints in the quarter-finals of the Welsh Cup after a comfortable 4-0 victory over Newport County at Park Hall.

With the Exiles also in Blue Square Premier action at Gateshead, manager Justin Edinburgh sent an inexperienced squad to Oswestry and they were despatched by four first-half goals.
The visitors could have drawn first blood when Myron Khan volleyed over the bar from a corner in the second minute but, a double salvo from the Saints virtually ended the game as a contest.
Scott Ruscoe's corner was drilled back into the box and defender Connell Rawlinson stabbed home from close range past keeper Danny Potter.
And, just four minutes later, Luke Holden's flag kick was returned into the box by Craig Jones for Alex Darlington to finish.
Greg Draper added a superb third on 26 minutes with a 25-yard volley and Jones hit an equally exquisite effort into the top corner two minutes before the break.
TNS dropped down a couple of gears in the second half with next week's game against Neath in mind and had little difficulty holding their visitors at bay, with sub Ryan Fraughan, Nicky Ward and Fraughan again all close to increasing the goal tally.
Quarter-final dtaw:
Bala Town v Llanelli AFC
Airbus UK Broughton v Carmarthen Town
Aberystwyth Town v Cefn Druids
The New Saints v Neath FC
Ties to be played on the weekend of 25/26/27 February.
Photo: Greg Draper hails Connell Rawlinson who put the Saints in front.

Uefa Cup record

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)
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