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.

Match facts

TOTAL NETWORK SOLUTIONS
Gerard Doherty
Martyn Naylor
Steve Evans
Tommy Holmes
Chris Taylor
John Leah
Scott Ruscoe
Marc Lloyd Williams
Michael Wilde
John Lawless
Jamie Wood
Substitutes
Chris King -> Marc Lloyd Williams (83)
John Toner -> John Lawless (89)
Goalscorer
John Lawless (75)

CARMARTHEN TOWN
Tony Pennock
Luke Hardy
Gary Lloyd
Martin Giles
Richard Carter
Rhodri Jones
Neil Smothers
Richard Kennedy
Nicky Burke
Mark Dodds
Kevin Aherne-Evans
Substitutes
Nathan Cotterrall -> Neil Smothers (78)
Omar Abdillahi -> Richard Kennedy (78)
Jimmy James -> Nicky Burke (89)
Referee Simon Jones
Attendance 1126