Saints are good value for Prestatyn win
Saints are good value for Prestatyn win
Friday 28 October 2011
GOALS from Greg Draper and Pip Baker gave The New Saints a well-deserved win at Prestatyn Town to open-up a six-point lead at the top of the Welsh Premier table.
But the two-goal margin of victory failed to reflect the Saints' domination in a game they largely controlled from start to finish.
Keeper Dave Roberts almost gifted the Saints an early lead, spilling the ball from a Chris Seargeant corner, but recovering to make a brilliant save from Craig Jones's follow-up shot.
Ian Griffiths blazed a shot across goal at the other end in a rare Town attack, but Baker blasted over for TNS and Steve Evans headed over from a Chris Marriott corner.
TNS came out with renewed purpose after the break and scored within 28 seconds of the restart, Jones providing the right-wing cross for Draper to sweep home from six yards.
Jones and Simon Spender were causing endless problems for Seasiders' debutant left-back Guto Hughes and created a host of openings, but the second goal proved hard to find and Ross Hannen had two chances for the hosts, forcing a finger-tip save from Paul Harrison with a header from a Chris Davies cross and skimming the crossbar from 20 yards.
Jones just failed to get on the end of a Scott Ruscoe cross to the back post and Draper had a good effort saved by Roberts but, with four minutes left, Baker put the game beyond reach.
Jones did well to keep the ball in play following a free-kick and pulled the ball back to Evans, whose pinpoint delivery was headed home by his fellow central defender.
Photo: Greg Draper and Matty Williams celebrate with goal scorer Pip Baker.
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