ANY thoughts of Easter title celebrations were put on hold after three late goals from Neath stunned The New Saints at Park Hall.
Leading through a superb Matty Williams goal just before half-time, the Saints were hit by a double whammy inside three minutes with headed goals for the Eagles by Paul Fowler and Matthew Rees and a third from Craig Hughes ending their chances of salvaging anything from a first home defeat of the season.
After Craig Jones had missed a good early chance for the hosts, the Eagles should have taken a seventh-minute lead when Phil Baker tripped Craig Hughes in the box, but Lee Trundle's penalty was well saved to his left by keeper Paul Harrison.
Hughes brought a good diving save in a lively opening stanza for the visitors, but TNS started to find their feet and Lee Idzi's diving save kept out a Scott Ruscoe 20-yarder.
But, three minutes before the break, Danny Holmes found Williams who cleverly beat his markers before planting a shot into the net.
Chris Sharp twice wasted good chances early in the second half and was narrowly over target with a 20-yard lob.
But one goal never looked enough and when Chris Jones got down the byline, he crossed for Fowler to glance a header into the far corner.
Three minutes later, a deep free-kick was headed across goal by Fowler for Rees to head home from close range.
Craig Hughes ensured there was no way back for the Saints with an angled drive five minutes from time and, although Chris Seargeant pulled a goal back with a scorching free-kick in stoppage time, it proved to be the last kick of the game.
Photo: Matty Williams fires the Saints into the lead.