Sarge earns his stripes with last-gasp winner
Sarge earns his stripes with last-gasp winner
Saturday 24 September 2011
CHRIS Seargeant was The New Saints' hero with a last-gasp goal to end a five-year wait for a win at The Airfield.
With the game in the last and fourth minute of stoppage time, Craig Jones crossed from the left and Matty Williams laid the ball back for substitute Seargeant to fire a 12-yarder past keeper Niki Lee-Bulmer and into the far corner.
It was no more than TNS deserved after creating far more chances than their hosts, but it was a heartbreaking finish for the Wingmakers who have yet to win a point in front of live TV cameras.
Despite a below par performance for much of the first half with too many misplaced passes, TNS spent plenty of time camped in the opposing half and Greg Draper saw his shot hit the crossbar from a Tom Roberts cross after just five minutes.
Aeron Edwards and Jones went close for the Saints, but Ian Sheridan had a gilt-edged opportunity to put Airbus in front just past the half hour, failing to beat keeper Paul Harrison with the goal at his mercy.
In a sustained spell of pressure just before the break, the Saints won six successive corners from one of a Steve Evans shot hit the crossbar.
After the break, a poor back-pass by Evans gifted a chance to former TNS frontman Craig Whitfield, who dragged his shot wide, but the visitors finally broke the deadlock on 78 minutes when sub Alex Darlington headed in from a Seargeant corner.
The lead lasted less than two minutes before Sheridan cut inside to feed an unmarked Mike Hayes who made no mistake from close range.
But, with the away fans anxiously looking at their watches, the Saints mounted one last attack and produced the goal that sends them three points clear at the top of the table.
Photo: Matty Williams looks on as Alex Darlington's header breaks the deadlock.
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