THE New Saints blew the Welsh Premier title race wide open by beating current leaders Bangor City 3-2 at Park Hall.
The victory moved TNS within three points of their rivals for the crown, with one game in hand and a superior goal difference.
But failure to take chances almost cost the Saints dear as they were forced to endure a nail-biting finale.
The Citizens got the perfect start after just four minutes, when a long throw from Peter Hoy was farmed to the edge of the box by Les Davies for Chris Jones to drill a low shot past Paul Harrison.
The Saints responded, with Aeron Edwards failing to take advantage of a one-on-one with the keeper, but the equaliser arrived on 20 minutes. A quickly-taken throw caught Bangor on the hop and Matty Williams controlled well under pressure before hooking his shot from a narrow angle into the net.
Within four minutes, TNS were further ahead, Oldfield parrying a Richie Partridge shot only as far as Edwards, who netted from close range.
City were left chasing shadows for much of the second period with Oldfield somehow keeping his goal intact, twice parrying Darlington efforts and flipping a fierce Chris Marriott effort over the bar, while Jones fired over a gaping goalmouth after the keeper had dropped the ball.
Home boss Mike Davies became the fourth Welsh Premier manager of the week to be sent to the stands but, five minutes later, a superb individual goal proved to be the winner. Jones cut inside from the left touchline before gliding past Johnston and planting a 12-yarder into the net.
With the Saints seemingly in control, City got a lifeline five minutes from time when Dave Morley’s free kick was saved at full-stretch by Harrison, but the rebound was headed home by Jones.
“The performance was all about character, we knew how they would set-up and we had to combat that,” said TNS assistant Carl Darlington.
Photo: Aeron Edwards nets the Saints second goal.