THE New Saints got their Welsh Premier season off to a flyer with the help of a Chris Sharp hat-trick in a 5-2 defeat of Prestatyn.

The five-goal haul equalled the score they notched against the same opponents on opening night 12 months ago, but manager Mike Davies admitted he was disappointed his defence had conceded twice to Town's debutant striker Lee Hunt.
"However, I don't want to be too hard on the lads because they have been superb and I would have taken this result before the kick-off," he said.
TNS were quick out of the blocks and opened their account after five minutes, although visiting keeper Jon Dunt will feel he should have done better as Sharp's 18-yarder found the far corner via the inside of the near post from Chris Seargeant's inside pass.
Some woeful defending allowed Craig Jones to double the advantage with a back stick header from Seargeant's left-wing cross, but the Seasiders hit back immediately with an overhead kick from Hunt.
Dunt dived to his right to deny Matty Williams from 15 yards before a Jones free-kick on the left found Sharp in space at the far post and he restored the Saints' two-goal cushion with a firm header.
Jones was also denied by Dunt early in the second half when he tried to convert from a rebound and Sharp almost added another with a 30-yarder which had the burly keeper diving to his right, but it flew wide of the post.
But the Saints did increase their lead on 58 minutes with a superb Danny Holmes 18-yarder into the far corner from Scott Ruscoe's pass.
With the Prestatyn defence all at sea, Jones hit the side netting after a scramble in the box but Hunt reduced the arrears seven minutes from time with a well-taken glancing header from a Ross Stephens free-kick.
Dave Hayes could well have added another when heading narrowly over from another Stephens delivery but Danny Holmes was then brought down in the box by Hayes as he ran on to a through ball and Sharp completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the last minute of normal time.
And it took a brilliant save in the top corner from Dunt to deny the Saints a sixth from Alex Darlington's rasping 22-yarder in stoppage time.
Photo: Chris Sharp celebrates the opening goal.