THE New Saints started the New Year in style with a 5-0 romp at home to Newtown in which Greg Draper led the way with his first hat-trick for the club.

With Alex Darlington also adding a brace, it was another black day for the Robins, who again made-up with energy and enthusiasm for what they may lack in experience.
Draper's well-taken goal on 28 minutes, after good work from Darlington and Simon Spender, was scant half-time reward for the Saints' domination and 17 attempts on goal.
Visiting keeper Nick Thomas did well to deny Chris Seargeant from 20 yards in the opening minutes and Darlington's effort from the edge of the box was deflected just over the target.
Seargeant tried an audacious free-kick from the halfway line which almost caught Thomas napping, with Thomas again denying Draper.
But the Saints quickly doubled their lead after the break, Craig Jones carving the opportunity for Draper to head his second of the afternoon.
Debutant Dave Howarth sent a shot over the bar for the visitors but only a good tackle by Luke Boundford stopped Draper, with sub Chris Williams firing well over from the rebound.
The Newtown defence was prised open again on 70 minutes by Darlington's shot which went in off the near post and his persistence paid off again eight minutes later when he prodded home despite being grounded in the box.
Darlington was only denied his hat-trick by the woodwork after Scott Ruscoe had hooked on a Jones cross before the Robins staged a late rally in search of a consolation goal with Jamie Price forcing an excellent save from Paul Harrison.
But it was Kiwi international Draper who had the last word with the best goal of the game, curling an 18-yarder past Thomas, to complete his threesome and take his season's league tally to 14.
Photo: Alex Darlington salutes as his first goal finds its way past Newtown keeper Nick Thomas.